A man died on the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, and riders who were there have told 11Alive what they saw. Many readers have questions, and many can’t be answered yet.
What did 11Alive report?
11Alive began its report with this sentence: “In a horrifying scene witnessed by dozens of park-goers, a man died after being ejected from a car on the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday.”
The outlet also reported that the park said it was “deeply saddened by the guest incident,” and that park workers and local authorities responded immediately.
What did the police and officials say?
Police said a man died. Cobb County police said several others were injured. Officials told Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell that one park visitor died and four others were injured. The reports describe the injured differently, so we’re repeating both as reported.
What did the riders say they saw?
Witnesses who were on the ride were emotional as they described a gruesome scene, according to 11Alive. They said the man hit the ride several times after he was ejected.
One witness told reporter Cody Alcorn that the falling man was captured on their souvenir picture taken while on the ride.
“He was in our pictures,” the witness said. “He fell and hit the car three different times.”
According to 11Alive, he said the man’s body hit others on the ride before falling onto the roof of a haunted house attraction below.
What did a couple on the ride say?
A husband and wife on the ride saw the man ejected from his car and bouncing off the coaster three times, 11Alive reported.
“We saw it all,” the man said.
“We were having a great time and to just screaming ‘Oh my God, what is happening?'” the woman said.
Did they say anything about the safety harness?
Both said workers checked their safety harness before the ride. That’s their statement, as reported by 11Alive. The information we have doesn’t say what, if anything, it means for the investigation, so we aren’t drawing a conclusion.
What was said about the man’s family?
11Alive reported that a woman said the man was on the ride with his son, while his wife and daughter were watching from the ground.
We’re passing that along as a witness’s statement. The information we have doesn’t identify the woman or show officials confirming the detail. The park and the city have both asked for privacy for the family.
Where was the man sitting?
The accident left riders stuck on an incline and forced a park evacuation, 11Alive wrote. The report says the man who died was not on the couple’s car, but “on a second coaster that was ahead of them.”
Video from 11Alive’s SkyTracker showed the coaster stopped on an incline as of 5 p.m. Workers were in the process of getting the riders out of the cars and onto a stairway.
Do all the reports describe it the same way?
No. 11Alive says the man was ejected from a car. Witnesses quoted by CNN affiliate WXIA said they watched the man fall off a roller coaster. The park’s statements refer to a “guest incident” and don’t say how it happened.
The ride photo, the landing spot, and the family detail all come from witnesses as reported by 11Alive. The information we have doesn’t show that officials have confirmed them.
On evacuation, 11Alive wrote of “a park evacuation,” while Channel 2 reported that riders on the Goliath were evacuated four at a time. The information we have doesn’t say the whole park was evacuated.
What do we know about the ride?
Six Flags Over Georgia is in Cobb County, about 10 miles west of downtown Atlanta, in the City of Mableton. According to 11Alive, the Goliath was manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard and opened in 2006. The Six Flags website, as cited by 11Alive, lists a speed of 70 miles per hour and an elevation of 200 feet.
What did the park say?
A Six Flags Entertainment Corporation spokesperson shared this full statement with Channel 2 Action News:
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. We are also providing support to the guests and team members affected.
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.
What did the city say?
The City of Mableton, where the park is located, released this statement from Mayor Michael Owens:
We are deeply saddened by the tragic incident at Six Flags Over Georgia today. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the individual’s family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time.
Mableton Public Safety Director Dr. Kerry Stallings is coordinating with Cobb County Police and park security as the situation is addressed. We are grateful to the personnel responding to this incident and will continue to support coordination with the appropriate authorities.
Out of respect for the family and the ongoing investigation, we will refrain from commenting further at this time.
What isn’t known yet?
The cause of the accident is not yet known, according to 11Alive. The information we have also doesn’t include the man’s identity, the condition of those who were injured, whether the Goliath or the park will stay open, or how long the investigation will last. Both the park and the city have said they won’t share more at this time out of respect for the family.
Where can I find updates?
Look to official sources, including the park, Cobb County police, and the City of Mableton. We’ll keep following the story and update this report as officials confirm more.
Our thoughts are with the man’s family, friends, and loved ones, and with the riders and others who witnessed what happened. If you share this story, please stick to confirmed details and be kind to the people involved.
