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Vol. 3 · No. 300 Every side. Side by side. Tuesday, October 27, 2026
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Six Flags to add seat belts on Goliath after fatal fall

Six Flags said it will add seat belts to Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia and similar coasters after a rider died Oct. 12, company statements reported by ABC News and cleveland.com.

By AI reporterPRESSElena Marsh · WhatsNewPaper Desk
What's new
  1. WVTM 13, First Coast News and 9 more are now reporting this
  2. New headline Was: “Six Flags says it will install seat belts on Georgia roller coaster after rider's death”
  3. Our desk filed its story
  4. AP is now reporting this
  5. The Guardian is now reporting this
4 earlier updates
  1. ABC News is now reporting this
  2. WSVN 7, ClickOrlando and 5 more are now reporting this
  3. New headline Was: “Six Flags says it will install seat belts on Georgia roller coaster after rider's death”
  4. Our desk filed its story

Wire reporting: (AP, via CNBC)

Six Flags said it will add seat belts to the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell, west of Atlanta, after a rider died Oct. 12 when he fell from the ride1,12,20.

Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, of Atlanta, was ejected from Goliath, struck other patrons and fell beneath the attraction, Cobb County police said, according to ABC News12. A relative told ABC News he was at the park for a niece's birthday and sitting beside her12.

Goliath remains closed while state and local officials and the company investigate; no official finding on what failed has been released1,12,20. The hyper coaster opened in 2006, stands about 200 feet and reaches about 70 mph, ABC News reported, citing the park12.

CEO John Reilly told guests in an Oct. 23 letter that the company would add seat belts on Goliath and other coasters with a similar restraint and had hired independent engineers to review safety procedures at all parks20. "Safety has always been fundamental to the experience we provide for our guests," Reilly wrote, cleveland.com reported20.

WVTM 13 said seat belts are also planned for Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey and Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America in Illinois1. cleveland.com listed eight other closed rides at five parks, including Orion and Diamondback at Kings Island in Ohio, Leviathan and Behemoth at Canada's Wonderland, and Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds in North Carolina20.

ABC News said Saturday that eight of those similar coasters remained closed and would receive seat belts or other restraints12. cleveland.com reported that Orion and Diamondback already have seat belts in addition to lap bars20.

AP and stations carrying its report said the closed Six Flags coasters were built by Bolliger & Mabillard and use similar clamshell lap restraints, and that SeaWorld Orlando later reopened its Mako coaster after a temporary closure (AP, via CNBC and WPXI)3,4,7. Investigators have not said what went wrong, those accounts said3,4.

Six Flags has not announced when Goliath or the other closed coasters will reopen1,20.

Sources

  1. WVTM 13What Six Flags is changing after a deadly coaster fall
  2. First Coast NewsSeat belts to be added to Goliath, similar roller coasters after deadly Six Flags Over Georgia fall
  3. APSix Flags says it will install seat belts on Georgia roller coaster after rider's death
  4. (AP, via CNBC)Six Flags says it will install seat belts on Georgia roller coaster after rider's deathAlso (AP, via WPXI), (AP, via CityNews Toronto), (AP, via WFLA), (AP, via WGN), (AP, via KSAT), (AP, via ClickOrlando), (AP, via Local 10), (AP, via ClickOnDetroit), (AP, via The Philadelphia Inquirer)
  5. WHIOSix Flags to install seat belts on several rides following death at Six Flags Over Georgia
  1. 11AliveSeat belts to be added to Goliath, similar roller coasters after deadly Six Flags Over Georgia fall
  2. The Rio TimesSix Flags Safety Rules, Who Checks the Rides
  3. The GuardianSix Flags to reopen Goliath rollercoaster – but now with seatbelts after recent rider death
  4. ABC NewsSix Flags announces new safety measures for Goliath coaster following rider death
  5. WSVN 7Six Flags signals Goliath roller coaster will reopen — with seat belts — after fatal fall at Georgia park
  6. cleveland.comAfter a fatal coaster accident in Georgia, Six Flags promises seat belts and an independent safety review
  7. Metro Puerto RicoSix Flags instalará cinturones de seguridad tras muerte en montaña rusa. ¿Te montarías?
  8. Primera HoraSix Flags pondrá cinturones en las montañas rusas tras muerte de pasajero

Read the original at WVTM 13 ↗

How it’s being reported

11 sources

First reported by 11Alive11Alive

WVTM 13First Coast NewsWHIOThe Rio TimesABC NewsWSVN 7

Where they agree

  • Six Flags will add seat belts on Goliath after the Oct. 12 death.
  • The ride remains closed and the cause is under investigation.
  • Other similar-restraint coasters at Six Flags parks were closed.

Where they differ

Which coasters will receive new seat belts

Side by side

Each outlet's article broken down by our newsroom, in our own words. To read what they wrote, use the button under each one.

WVTM 13WVTM 13

What Six Flags is changing after a deadly coaster fall

Named Nitro and Raging Bull as additional coasters getting seat belts.

Six Flags Over Georgia will add seat belts to Goliath after an Oct. 12 fatal fall, and named two other coasters for the same upgrade.

Leaves out Does not name the rider or list all closed coasters.

Named Nitro and Raging Bull as additional coasters getting seat belts.

What it reports

  • Seat belts will be added to Goliath after a man fell Oct. 12.
  • Nitro at Great Adventure and Raging Bull at Great America are also slated for seat belts.
  • Goliath and several other Six Flags coasters remain shut during an investigation.
  • Official investigation results have not been released.
  • No reopen dates announced.

Leaves out Does not name the rider or list all closed coasters.

Read the original at WVTM 13 Read the full article at WVTM 13
The Rio TimesThe Rio Times

Six Flags Safety Rules, Who Checks the Rides

Regulatory and inspection framework.

Explainer on who inspects U.S. roller coasters after the Goliath death.

Leaves out Not a first-day account of the CEO letter.

Regulatory and inspection framework.

What it reports

  • Seat belts are being added after the Goliath death.
  • U.S. coaster inspection rules vary by jurisdiction.

Leaves out Not a first-day account of the CEO letter.

Read the original at The Rio Times Read the full article at The Rio Times
ABC NewsABC News

Six Flags announces new safety measures for Goliath coaster following rider death

Victim identification, police description, and independent safety review.

Identifies the rider, cites Cobb County police on how he was ejected, and says eight other coasters remain closed for seat belts or other restraints.

Leaves out Does not reprint the full AP restraint-patent discussion.

Victim identification, police description, and independent safety review.

What it reports

  • Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, was ejected Oct. 12 and struck other patrons, police said.
  • Goliath stays closed while the company inspects the ride.
  • Independent engineers were hired to review safety procedures across parks.
  • Goliath opened in 2006, reaches about 200 feet and 70 mph.

Leaves out Does not reprint the full AP restraint-patent discussion.

Read the original at ABC News Read the full article at ABC News