One Person Dies After Incident on Goliath Coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia
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One person died and several others were injured Monday in an incident involving a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, the Cobb County Police Department confirmed. Police said it happened shortly before 4 p.m. Detectives from the department's Major Crimes Unit are investigating what led to it.
Police did not name the ride. CBS News, Fox News and ABC News all reported that the incident involved the park's Goliath coaster, citing what they saw at the park and witness accounts. The cause has not been made public, and the person who died has not been identified.
What is known about the incident
According to CBS News, the Goliath was shut down after the incident. Its cameras saw guests being evacuated from the ride's largest hill by an emergency stairway. Fox News said the coaster stopped and left passengers stuck on the track until emergency crews got them off. It said video showed people climbing out and walking down a staircase high above the ground. ABC News reported that the ride stopped near the top.
Police said officers assigned to the park and uniformed patrol officers responded. Authorities have not said how many people were hurt or how seriously, beyond saying that several were injured.
What witnesses described
Fox News and ABC News both reported that witnesses told local station WXIA they saw a man fall from the Goliath. One witness said the man appeared in their souvenir ride photo. "He was in our pictures," the witness said, according to Fox News. The witness also said the man hit the ride's car several times as he fell, a detail ABC News also reported.
Police have not confirmed those accounts. The department has not described how the person died, and officials have not said whether the witness descriptions match their findings.
What Six Flags and local officials said
A Six Flags spokesperson said the company was "deeply saddened" and extended condolences to the guest's family and friends. The spokesperson said the company was supporting affected guests and team members. The statement said park staff and local authorities responded immediately and that Six Flags is cooperating fully with the investigation. Citing the family's privacy, the company said it would not share more details for now.
CBS News reported that Mableton Mayor Michael Owens said the city's public safety director is coordinating with Cobb County police and the park.
About the Goliath
The Goliath opened in 2006 and is the largest coaster at the park, according to CBS News. The park's website lists a peak height of 200 feet and top speeds of up to 70 mph, according to Fox News and ABC News. Fox News said the site also describes a 170-foot first drop, a 175-foot second drop, a 540-degree spiral and forces of up to 4 Gs. The park is in Austell, west of Atlanta, ABC News reported.
Why it matters for park visitors and families
For people who visit the park or have relatives there, the main facts are limited. A guest died, several others were hurt, and the Goliath was shut down and evacuated Monday. The cause is unknown. Police have not said whether the ride malfunctioned, whether a restraint was involved or whether anything else played a part. Reports so far rest on police statements, the company's statement and witness accounts, which have not been independently confirmed.
Sources did not say how long the Goliath will stay closed or whether other rides were affected.
What happens next
Cobb County detectives are working to establish the circumstances of the incident. Six Flags says it is cooperating. Police and the company have said more information will come only as the investigation proceeds, and ABC News described the story as still developing. Authorities have not said when they will release the person's identity or findings on the cause.
