People being evacuated from Six Flags Over Georgia
The incident occurred on the Goliath roller coaster at the amusement park in Cobb County, about 15 miles northwest of Atlanta. Police confirmed one death and said several others were injured, but did not provide details about the injuries or explain what caused the incident.
Witnesses told local broadcaster 11Alive that the man appeared to be thrown from his coaster car and struck the ride multiple times as he fell. One passenger said the incident was captured in a souvenir photograph taken during the ride. Cobb County Police said detectives from the department’s major crimes unit were investigating. In a statement, Six Flags said it was “deeply saddened by the guest incident” and that park staff and local authorities had responded immediately. The company said it was cooperating fully with investigators and providing support to affected guests and employees.
The incident left other riders stranded on an incline and prompted an evacuation of the park. Videos show passengers being helped out of the stationary coaster cars and onto a staircase. The riders were in a car behind the one involved in the fatal incident. The cause of the accident remains unknown.
Cobb County board of commissioners chairwoman Lisa Cupid said she could not imagine the horror experienced by park visitors and staff. She added that next of kin had been notified and expressed condolences to the deceased man’s family.