A 42-year-old Atlanta educator has died following a fatal incident at Six Flags Over Georgia after reportedly being ejected from a moving roller coaster on Monday, October 12th according to The New York Times.
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THE WORD:
Victim: Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, of Atlanta, Georgia.
Location: Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell, Georgia.
Date: Monday, October 12, 2026.
Incident: Kariem was reportedly ejected from a moving roller coaster and fell beneath the attraction.
Occupation: He worked as an IT manager at Wesley International Academy.
Investigation: Cobb County police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
Safety measures: Six Flags temporarily closed nine similar roller coasters across six parks as a precaution.
The victim was identified as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, an Atlanta resident who worked as an IT manager at Wesley International Academy, a charter school in southeast Atlanta.
According to preliminary information from investigators, witness accounts indicated that Kariem was ejected from the roller coaster, struck other park patrons and fell beneath the attraction. Officers responded to the scene at approximately 3:58 p.m. and found him unresponsive and not breathing.
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation as authorities work to determine what led to the fatal fall.
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Kariem’s death has also brought attention to the loss felt by members of Atlanta’s educational community. Atlanta Public Schools expressed condolences to his family, friends and colleagues following the incident, acknowledging the impact of his loss on those who knew him.
The roller coaster involved was identified in reports as Goliath, a major attraction at Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell, just outside Atlanta. The ride reaches speeds of approximately 70 miles per hour and stands about 200 feet tall.
Following the incident, Six Flags temporarily closed nine similar roller coasters across six parks as a precaution. The company said it was cooperating with authorities and providing support to guests and employees affected by the incident.
Investigators have not publicly established the cause of Kariem’s ejection from the ride. Officials are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding his death as they work to determine exactly what happened.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Cobb County Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit at 770-499-3945.
