Man killed on a Six Flags roller coaster was thrown from the ride and hit other patrons, police say

An Atlanta man died on Monday after being thrown from a roller coaster at Six Flags over Georgia and striking other patrons before falling to the ground below, Cobb County police said. The man was identified as 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem. Witnesses reported seeing him come out of his seat during the ride, with one describing him as 'levitating in the air sideways' and making direct eye contact.

Several other people were injured in the incident, though officials have not released details about their conditions. Authorities and Six Flags did not name the specific ride involved, but local TV stations showed video of passengers being evacuated from the Goliath roller coaster, which was already scheduled to be closed on Tuesday. One of Goliath’s trains remained on the track where it stopped during the climb of the first hill.

Six Flags Entertainment Corp. temporarily closed nine roller coasters across six amusement parks 'out of an abundance of caution,' a company spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that staff and local authorities responded immediately, the park is cooperating with the investigation, and support is being provided to affected guests and staff. Cobb County Board of Commissioners chairwoman Lisa Cupid said the man’s next of kin have been notified and expressed sorrow over the tragedy.

Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal