A 42-year-old man has died and several others were injured following an incident involving the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, near Atlanta, prompting a police investigation and precautionary ride closures across North America.
Authorities identified the victim as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, an Atlanta resident, as witnesses described him falling from the attraction and striking other riders.
Witnesses reported that Kariem came loose from his seat while the roller coaster was operating, striking parts of the ride and several passengers before falling onto the roof of a nearby haunted house attraction.
Some witnesses told local media that Kariem appeared to have been riding with his son while his wife and daughter watched from the ground.
These accounts have not been independently verified.
One witness described seeing an empty seat with a loose safety restraint when the roller coaster returned, while another said park employees had checked passengers' harnesses before departure.
Aerial footage showed the Goliath roller coaster stopped midway through its course as workers assisted passengers.
Goliath reaches speeds of 70 mph (112 km/h) and stands approximately 200 feet (60 meters) tall, according to Six Flags.
The Cobb County Police Department's major crimes unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding Kariem's death.
Authorities have not released an official explanation of how he fell or how other passengers sustained injuries.
Six Flags said its employees and local authorities responded immediately and confirmed that nine rides across its US and Canadian parks had been temporarily closed as a precaution.
Roller coaster manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard also confirmed it was investigating the incident.
Atlanta Public Schools identified Kariem as a valued member of Wesley International Academy, expressing condolences to his family and colleagues.
The fatality follows Six Flags' recent decision to permanently retire the X2 roller coaster at Magic Mountain in California after reports alleging serious injuries.
The company maintained that X2 had passed safety testing.
The Georgia investigation remains ongoing, with authorities yet to establish the precise circumstances of the fatal incident.