Six Flags has shut down nine roller coasters across six parks nationwide following a fatal incident on Georgia’s Goliath ride, which raised more questions about amusement park safety.
The Goliath reaches a speed of 70 miles per hour with an elevation of 200 feet, according to the Six Flags website. Witnesses claim that a guest at Six Flags Over Georgia died after falling from the roller coaster on Monday.
The man “fell and hit the car three times” before landing on the roof of a haunted house attraction below, according to witnesses who spoke with WXIA News.
“He came up out of his car that he was in, his seat, and went forward and just came down head first into the other,” witness Nick Mendenhall said in an interview that aired on Today. “It was in slow motion, and there was a moment where I was like, ‘God, just let this man stay in that cart.’ It all happened so fast.”
Six Flags shuts down several roller coasters across the country
In response to a deadly event that left one person dead and several injured, Six Flags has temporarily halted several roller coasters at amusement parks around North America.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we have temporarily closed similar attractions across our parks,” a Six Flags spokeswoman told WSB-TV News. “The safety of our guests and team members remains one of our highest priorities.”
Roller coasters in California, New Jersey, Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina, and Canada are affected by the shutdown, and no reopening dates have been provided.
Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America in Illinois, Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, and Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California are among the impacted roller coasters. The Orion and Diamondback roller coasters at Kings Island in Ohio were also temporarily closed; the Behemoth and Leviathan coasters at Canada’s Wonderland in Ontario were shut down; and Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds in North Carolina were closed.
“We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the guest’s family, friends, and loved ones. We are also providing support to the guests and team members affected,” Six Flags wrote in a statement on Monday.
“The park team and local authorities responded immediately, and we are cooperating fully with local authorities as they complete their investigation. Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we will not be sharing additional details at this time,” the statement added.
This is the second time in two months that Six Flags has shut down roller coasters at its parks
The X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California, which has been named in lawsuits related to two fatalities and over 100 claims of brain damage, was permanently closed by the amusement park company last month.
After a 22-year-old male rider allegedly suffered a fatal brain injury in 2022, numerous people have come forward with warnings and accounts of injuries incurred on the ride.
A CNN investigation in August revealed more than a dozen claims of serious injuries and hospitalizations associated with the ride, including at least two fatalities. Lawyers reported that they now represent over 100 individuals who claim to have suffered varying degrees of brain damage after riding the X2 roller coaster during the past two years.
Three people recently required brain surgery after riding the X2 coaster. Two X2 roller coaster riders, Naomi Greer-Wilkinson and Pamela Guillen, recently required emergency brain surgery for severe traumatic brain injuries after losing consciousness upon exiting the ride. Michael Wilk, a lawyer from Los Angeles, claims that after riding X2 in February, he experienced severe brain bleeding that necessitated several brain surgeries.