Six Flags to add seat belts after Georgia coaster death

Six Flags will add seat belts to its Goliath roller coaster in Georgia after a rider was thrown from the ride and fell to his death this month. The company also plans to add seat belts to coasters with similar restraints and has ordered an independent review of safety procedures across its parks.

Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, died Oct. 12 at Six Flags Over Georgia, outside Atlanta. The Guardian described Kariem as a father and educator. Atlanta Public Schools said he worked at Wesley International Academy, according to NBC News.

Kariem was ejected from Goliath and struck other parts of the ride as he fell. Witnesses told NBC News that his body hit other riders before landing on the roof of a haunted house attraction below. Georgia authorities have opened an investigation into his death, The Guardian reported.

Goliath remains closed. Other rides at five parks were also closed after the incident as a precaution, though Six Flags has not said when they will reopen. A company spokesperson previously identified the affected rides as 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, according to NBC News. The Guardian put the number of other rides temporarily closed at eight; the list provided to NBC News names nine. Six Flags said Friday that more than 220 of its roller coasters remained in operation.

“What happened has deeply affected all of us at Six Flags. Safety has always been fundamental to the experience we provide for our guests,” CEO John Reilly wrote Friday, according to The Guardian.

Goliath uses a lap bar that locks over riders’ waists, The Guardian reported. The company has not specified which other coasters will receive seat belts. It said it had engaged independent engineers and ride inspection specialists to review safety procedures for rides and attractions throughout its parks.

“I know trust is earned through actions and not words. As CEO of Six Flags, I take that responsibility personally,” Reilly said in a company statement. “We will continue to communicate about our progress and hold ourselves accountable to our commitments to you.”

Six Flags also faces a lawsuit filed in September by riders who allege they suffered brain injuries on its X2 coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California. The Guardian reported that the plaintiffs accuse the company of negligence and say the ride was defective. It also reported that Six Flags permanently closed X2 in September.