Six Flags Adding Seat Belts After Fatal Goliath Fall
Six Flags says it will install seat belts on Goliath and other roller coasters with similar restraints after Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem died in a fall from the…
Six Flags is adding seat belts to Goliath and similar roller coasters after a rider died in a fall from the Georgia ride. The company says Goliath and eight other rides at five parks remain closed while safety reviews continue.
Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, a 42-year-old man, died on October 12 after being ejected from Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia, police said. Four other passengers were injured as he fell, according to the BBC; CNN reported that several parkgoers were injured, including four minors.
Six Flags President and CEO John Reilly announced the safety changes in a letter to customers late on Friday. The company has not named the other coasters that will receive seat belts or said when the closed rides may reopen.
Safety reviews underway at nine rides
Goliath already has lap-bar restraints. Six Flags says it will add seat belts to the ride and other coasters with similar restraint systems as it reinforces safety precautions across its parks.
The company has hired independent engineers and ride inspection specialists to review safety procedures at its amusement parks. Reilly said Six Flags would act on the experts’ findings and provide progress updates.
“Our hearts remain with the family and loved ones of Hassan Kariem, those injured, and everyone impacted by the tragic incident,” Reilly said in the letter, according to the BBC. He also wrote that the incident had deeply affected the company.
Goliath remains closed pending safety reviews. The eight other rides are at five additional parks, according to Six Flags. CNN reported that the company described the closures as a precaution. The investigation into the death is ongoing.
The change has immediate consequences for visitors: the affected rides are unavailable while the company and officials examine safety. Six Flags operates 34 locations across North America and has more than 220 roller coasters, according to the BBC. The company has not said whether the reviews will lead to further changes beyond adding seat belts to rides with similar restraints.
Investigation continues after fatal fall
Police said preliminary information gathered from witnesses and employees indicated Kariem had been ejected from the ride. CNN reported that authorities are reviewing evidence, equipment and documentation to determine whether state safety requirements were followed.
Six Flags has not announced a reopening date for Goliath or the other temporarily closed rides. The company says it will take action based on the independent experts’ findings and share updates on its progress.
“Safety has always been fundamental to the experience we provide for our guests,” Reilly said in a statement reported by CNN.
Source: bbc.com
