Witnesses describe the moments before 'cherished' teacher fell to his death from Six Flags roller coaster
· Yahoo NewsGeorgia police have identified the man who died Monday after falling from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia in an incident that also injured several others.
The Cobb County Police Department identified the 42-year-old Atlanta man as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem. "Preliminary information gathered through witness and employee interview indicates Kariem was ejected from the ride and struck other patrons before falling beneath the attraction," according to a Tuesday statement from the Cobb County Police Department's Major Crimes Unit.
Eyewitnesses shared what they saw as Monday's accident unfolded.
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"It looked like he was hovering because the car was moving underneath him," Nick Mendenhall, who had just ridden Goliath with his son, told the Associated Press. "It felt like slow-motion, but it happened in an instant," Mendenhall said. "I was just praying in those moments. I was praying: 'God, please let him stay in that car.'"
"He fell and hit the car three different times," a witness told WXIA Atlanta, adding that their souvenir photo from the ride captured Kariem falling.
Another witness told NBC News that he was on the ride with his partner when he saw Kariem ejected from his seat. "The man started levitating in the air sideways," he said. "We made direct eye contact with him."
A woman waiting in line to ride Goliath again told Fox 5 Atlanta, "We just look, and I just see somebody fly out." She said that she wasn't sure what she had seen at first. "Maybe somebody had a bag or something. … I ran and I checked, and I was absolutely right. I knew what I saw."
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Police said when officers arrived at the scene around 4 p.m., Kariem was found unresponsive and he wasn't breathing.
"Investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident," the statement said, adding that Kariem's next of kin had been notified.
Kariem worked as the information technology manager at Wesley International Academy, a public charter school. He had previously served as a technology teacher and a robotics coach, the school said.
In a statement, the Wesley International Academy praised his "love for Wesley, dedication to our students, and commitment to our school community."
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"Mr. Kariem was deeply loved and respected, and his absence will be felt throughout our school community.
Atlanta Public Schools described him in a statement as "a cherished member" of the school, and said it "extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of Mr. Kariem."
Six Flags issued a statement offering condolences to Kariem's family. "Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the guest's family, friends, and loved ones," a park spokesperson said, adding that details wouldn't be released out of respect for the family's privacy.
An investigation into the cause of the incident — by the Cobb County Police Department's Major Crimes Unit, the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire and the roller coaster's manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard — is ongoing. Six Flags said it is cooperating with authorities on the investigation. Kariem's cause of death has not been disclosed and it's unknown exactly how many were injured in Monday's accident.
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"We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident," Bolliger & Mabillard said in a statement. "Our thoughts are with the family and those affected."
The company considers Goliath, which opened in 2006, a hyper coaster. According to the Six Flags website, the ride has a top height of 200 feet and a top speed of 70 mph.
Six Flags says it has temporarily closed nine other rides across six parks in North America after Monday's accident "out of an abundance of caution," including Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America; Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain; Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure; Leviathan and Behemoth at Canada's Wonderland; Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds; and Orion and Diamondback at Kings Island.
Although amusement park accidents are likely to receive news coverage, serious injuries are rare. The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, which represents theme parks and attractions worldwide, states that "the chance of being seriously injured on a fixed-site ride at a U.S. amusement park is 1 in 15.5 million rides taken."
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There is no federal oversight of fixed-site amusement parks in the United States. The industry is largely self-regulated, and no single agency tracks accidents, injuries or deaths. (The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission regulates mobile amusement park and carnival rides.)