Six Flags Goliath Rider’s Fatal Fall Captured in Souvenir Photo
Newsweek · C · trust 59/100
10 Loading video... By Alice Gibbs Senior Reporter
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. The fatal fall of a rider on the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday was captured by a souvenir photograph, a witness told a local news outlet.
The unnamed witness told local broadcaster 11Alive that the image was captured by their souvenir picture that was taken while they were on the ride. They said the man's body hit others on the ride before falling onto the roof of a haunted house attraction.
"He was in our pictures," the witness told the publication, before adding: "He fell and hit the car three different times."
An apparent souvenir photograph circulating on social media, that has not been publicly authenticated or verified by Newsweek , appears to show the moment the incident took place with one rider out of their seat.
Cobb County Police Department told Newsweek that they responded to an incident involving a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia at approximately 3:58 p.m. on October 12.
“Several people were reported injured, and one person has died,” a spokesperson said. “Officers assigned to the park, along with uniformed patrol officers, responded to the scene.”
They added that detectives with the department’s Major Crimes Unit are responding to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
An unnamed woman told 11Alive that the man's son was was sat beside him when the incident took place, and his wife and daughter were at the park but not on the ride. “His blood spattered over everybody and his body fell behind one of the haunted attractions,” the woman said in an emotional call with the outlet on Monday evening.
A spokesperson for Six Flags Over Georgia said the park was "deeply saddened by the guest incident" and was cooperating with local authorities as they investigate what happened.
"The park team and local authorities responded immediately, and we are cooperating fully with local authorities as they complete their investigation. Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we will not be sharing additional details at this time," they added.
Newsweek reached out to Six Flags and for comment.
The Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, also referred to as a “hyper coaster,” opened to the public in 2006 when it was declared the fourth-best new ride of the year by Amusement Today .
With a construction cost of $20 million, it stands at a height of 200 feet and reaches a maximum speed of 70 mph. The ride itself travels 4,480 foot length in just three and a half minutes and is made up of two trains with nine cars, allowing for 36 riders per train. Six Flags ranks Goliath at level four out of five on its own "thrill scale."
The coaster uses a clamshell restraint, a large, padded lap bar that rests over the legs and not over the shoulders, giving more upper-body freedom and common on hyper coasters.
Not long after the ride’s opening, a 45-year-old man died after riding the Goliath.
In July 2006, Michael Corry, from Birmingham, Alabama, was found unresponsive and not breathing after losing consciousness during the ride. Despite efforts to save him, he was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
An autopsy showed that the ride was not at fault, and that Corry’s death was as a result of a congenital heart problem. The ride reopened after necessary safety checks.
According to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) more than 385 million guests ride over 1.7 billion fixed-site roller coasters in North America each year, and they say that the chance of being seriously injured on a fixed-site amusement ride is about 1 in 15.5 million rides taken.
The Goliath coaster was designed and manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, or B&M, who have been making roller coaster rides since 1988.
With over 100 roller coasters, B&M are known for pioneering ride technology and produce various types of coasters, including multiple rides at Six Flags locations across the country.
They also built The Incredible Hulk Coaster at Universal Islands of Adventure, and have a number of roller coasters in operation in Canada and Europe.
Robert Niles, editor of Theme Park Insider, wrote on Monday evening that he “can't recall any previous examples of a rider falling from a B&M roller coaster.”
The incident at the Six Flags Over Georgia park comes just weeks after Six Flags permanently closed one of their rides at a southern California Magic Mountain location.
The X2 roller coaster, manufactured by Arrow Dynamics, was closed in July after more than 100 rides alleged they suffered brain injuries on the ride that has seats that spin 360 degrees.
Dordick Law Corporation, who filed civil lawsuits against the park, said it had been contacted by about 400 people who alleged they had injuries they believed were caused by the ride.
"They got on X2 expecting a thrill. Instead, they left with catastrophic brain injuries. Some needed emergency brain surgery. Some are still fighting to get their lives back,” the firm said in a statement.
Six Flags Magic Mountain Park President Brian Oerding said in a statement: "Ride safety is a cornerstone of our business, and when we see guest confidence affected, we take it seriously."
The park added that the ride had passed a range of safety tests, but that it would be retired as it was “the right thing to do.”
Update 10/13/26 06:35 a.m. ET: This story was updated with additional information.
Read the original at Newsweek →
Open in TruthVane →