Eyewitnesses describe rider's harrowing fall in fatal Six Flags roller coaster incident
Eyewitnesses are speaking out after they say a man was ejected and fell to his death from a roller coaster at a Six Flags amusement park in Georgia on Monday.
Those interviewed by ABC News, who asked not to have their names used, described a man as coming out of his seat on Six Flags Over Georgia's Goliath roller coaster, hitting the ride several times before falling to the ground Monday afternoon.
Police later identified the deceased individual in the incident as 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem.
"A man slips out of his seat, and he turns sideways, and he's flipping in the air," said one eyewitness. "He comes down, he slams down on our cart. You could feel him slam down on the cart and then come back up. He comes back up, he flips again, comes down on our cart again."
"His restraint came undone," the eyewitness said.
The witness continued, "People reached out trying to grab him, like everybody tried to save this man."
Another eyewitness added, "There was too much force to grab him."
Several people were also injured in the incident, which occurred shortly before 4 p.m. Monday, according to police.
"Nobody could breathe. Everybody's screaming, crying, freaking out. Parents are running up there telling them, 'Let our kids off this ride,'" the first eyewitness said.
The Cobb County Police Department said in a statement, "Detectives with our Major Crimes Unit are responding to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident."
It is unclear what led to the deadly incident. Authorities later described the incident in a statement saying, "Preliminary information gathered through witness and employee interviews indicates Kariem was ejected from the ride and struck other patrons before falling beneath the attraction. Investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident."
Six Flags Over Georgia is located in Austell, west of Atlanta. The Goliath roller coaster reaches an elevation of 200 feet and speeds up to 70 mph, according to the amusement park's website. The ride first opened in 2006.
A Six Flags spokesperson said they were "deeply saddened by the guest incident" and offered "thoughts and heartfelt condolences."
The spokesperson stated, "The park team and local authorities responded immediately, and we are cooperating fully with local authorities as they complete their investigation."
A spokesperson said Monday it has "temporarily closed similar attractions across our parks" on Monday out of an abundance of caution.
Lisa N. Cupid, chairwoman for the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, said in a statement Monday, "I cannot imagine the horror the patrons and employees witnessed today, and my heart aches for the family who lost a loved one."
She called the amusement park "a significant part of our tourism landscape" and added, "We are all grappling with how something so devastating could happen at a place that has given generations of families such happy memories."
