Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, a 42-year-old Atlanta resident, has been identified as the person killed after being ejected from a roller coaster at the Six Flags Over Georgia amusement park.
Officers found Kariem beneath the ride, unresponsive and not breathing, before securing the scene and requesting assistance from the department's Major Crimes Unit, the Cobb County Police Department told Newsweek in an emailed statement on Tuesday. The department said Kariem's next of kin had been notified.
Officers at the park in Austell, about 10 miles west of Atlanta, responded at approximately 3:58 p.m. on Monday to an incident involving a guest.
"Preliminary information gathered through witness and employee interview indicates Kariem was ejected from the ride and struck other patrons before falling beneath the attraction," the Major Crimes Unit said in its statement.
A witness told Atlanta news outlet 11Alive that the fall was captured in a souvenir photograph.
Investigators have not publicly said what caused Kariem to be ejected. Police said they are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and described the investigation as "active and ongoing."
Georgia's Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire, which oversees amusement parks, is also investigating the incident. The agency said its team was conducting an "in-depth and comprehensive review" to determine the circumstances and whether applicable policies and procedures were followed, 11Alive reported.
Six Flags has temporarily closed similar roller coasters at several parks in the United States and Canada following the death.
Newsweek reached out to Six Flags via email for comment.
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Who Was Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem?
Kariem was 42 and lived in Atlanta, according to the Cobb County Police Department.
His family told 11Alive that Kariem was a passionate educator at Wesley International Academy in the metro Atlanta area and equally passionate about the city. Family members also described him as someone who cared deeply about uniting families.
"Atlanta Public Schools extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of Mr. Kariem," APS said in a statement emailed to Newsweek Tuesday.
"He was a cherished member of the Wesley International Academy and APS families whose presence and impact will be deeply missed by our students, staff, and all those whose lives he touched. Our thoughts are with everyone mourning his loss during this difficult time," the district said in a statement.
According to investigators, witnesses and employees said Kariem was ejected from the coaster on Monday, struck other patrons and then fell underneath the attraction. Officers found Kariem beneath the ride unresponsive and not breathing.
How Many People Were Injured?
The police statement provided Tuesday confirms that Kariem struck other patrons after being ejected but does not specify how many people were injured or provide information about their conditions. However, WSB-TV reported that four other people were injured and taken to a hospital, citing officials.
The nature of the injuries was not immediately available.
Other Rides Closed After Fatal Incident
The Goliath roller coaster was stopped following the incident and riders were evacuated, according to local reports. Six Flags Over Georgia subsequently closed for the remainder of the day as authorities investigated.
Six Flags later temporarily closed nine additional roller coasters at six other amusement parks, bringing the total number of closed rides to 10, including Goliath.
"Out of an abundance of caution, we have temporarily closed similar attractions across our parks," Six Flags said in a statement, adding that guest and employee safety remained one of its highest priorities.
Six Flags Magic Mountain Closes X2
The incident in Georgia comes just two weeks after Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California permanently shuttered its famed X2 roller coaster amid renewed scrutiny over rider safety.
The theme park operator announced on September 29 that the coaster would not reopen roughly a month after reports highlighted a history of serious injuries and fatalities linked to the ride, including two severe brain injury incidents that occurred within days of each other in July. Known for its rotating seats and extreme maneuvers, X2 was billed as a "fourth-dimension" coaster, giving riders the sensation of flipping independently of the track below.
There is no indication that the Magic Mountain issues played a part in Kariem's death in Georgia.
Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Samantha Beech and Sam Wilson.