1 dead, others hurt at Six Flags Over Georgia as man fell from coaster, guests say
NBC News · LC · trust 51/100
The Cobb County Department of Emergency Communications confirmed the death but did not provide additional details about the incident about 4 p.m. at the amusement park just outside Atlanta.
Cobb County Police said the department’s Major Crimes Unit is investigating.
Witnesses who spoke to NBC affiliate WXIA of Atlanta said they saw a man fall from the Goliath roller coaster, and at least two people said they saw him strike parts of the ride before he hit the ground.
“He fell and hit the car three different times,” a witness told the station.
Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday. WXIA “We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the guest’s family, friends, and loved ones,” a park spokesperson said in a statement.
The spokesperson added that the park was providing support to guests and employees and that details would not be immediately released “out of respect for the family’s privacy.”
Logan Conner said he was on the ride with his fiancé when he saw the man come out of his seat on Goliath.
“The man started levitating in the air sideways,” he said. “We made direct eye contact with him.”
Add to Google Witnesses recount Goliath ride death at Six Flags Over Georgia 06:06 A witness told WXIA that the man who fell had been sitting with a child.
Video showed riders exiting the roller coaster after it paused mid-ride.
Goliath, designed and built by Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers of Switzerland, opened in 2006 and features a drop of more than 200 feet, which places it in the category of hyper coaster .
In September, Six Flags was named in multiple lawsuits after riders alleged to have suffered brain injuries on the X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California. It includes 360-degree rotating seats, a 215-foot drop and sudden flips and rotations.
That coaster has been closed since July 12, a day after attorney Christopher Bulone said one of the plaintiffs suffered catastrophic brain injury after a ride. The park said at the time that it does not comment on pending lawsuits.
Six Flags Over Georgia is about 10 miles west of downtown Atlanta.
Share Add NBC News to Google Dennis Romero Dennis Romero is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
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