Six Flags Closes 9 Roller Coasters After Georgia Death
Six Flags has temporarily closed nine roller coasters at six of its amusement parks across North America after a man fell to his death from a ride in Georgia over the weekend, in what the company called a precautionary move. The Six Flags roller coasters closed include some of the most famous thrill rides in the country.
According to the Associated Press and The New York Times, the closures affect nine coasters similar in design to the ride connected to the death at Six Flags Over Georgia outside Atlanta. Park officials told the outlets the rides were shut “out of an abundance of caution” while safety inspections are carried out.
What happened on the Goliath ride
Cobb County police said on Oct. 12 that a man died after falling from a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia and that several other people were injured in the incident. Atlanta television stations WSB and 11 Alive reported that the man was on the Goliath coaster when he fell.
Witnesses told 11 Alive that the man was ejected from his car, fell, and struck the ride structure multiple times. WSB reported that four other people were injured. Cobb County police were still investigating the circumstances of the fall, and it was not immediately clear what caused the man to come out of the car.
Goliath is one of the premier attractions at the Georgia park. According to Six Flags, the “hypercoaster” reaches a top speed of 70 miles per hour and a maximum elevation of 200 feet. The ride opened in 2006 and has carried millions of riders since.
Full list of Six Flags roller coasters closed
The nine temporarily closed coasters span six parks in the United States and Canada. They are:
- Raging Bull — Six Flags Great America, Illinois
- Goliath — Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, California
- Nitro — Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson Township, New Jersey
- Leviathan — Canada’s Wonderland, Vaughan, Ontario
- Behemoth — Canada’s Wonderland, Vaughan, Ontario
- Fury 325 — Carowinds, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Thunder Striker — Carowinds, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Orion — Kings Island, Ohio
- Diamondback — Kings Island, Ohio
The company did not say how long the closures would last. USA Today reported that it had reached out to Six Flags for further information about the closures and to the Cobb County Police Department for details about the people injured.
Why the company shut similar rides
Industry experts say the decision to close coasters of a similar design — rather than just the one involved — is an increasingly standard response when a serious incident raises questions about a ride’s restraint system or operating profile.
The coasters on the list share features with the Georgia Goliath: tall steel hypercoaster-style layouts with steep drops and high speeds. Fury 325 at Carowinds, for example, is one of the tallest and fastest coasters in the world. Closing the group allows the company’s engineers to review restraint systems, operating procedures, and recent maintenance records across the fleet.
The timing is sensitive. October is one of the busiest months for amusement parks, with Halloween events drawing large crowds. The closures are likely to affect attendance and revenue at several of the company’s flagship parks during the fall season.
Roller coaster safety in the spotlight
Serious injuries and deaths on roller coasters are rare relative to the number of riders. According to industry safety data, hundreds of millions of rides are taken each year in North America with very few fatalities. But when an incident does occur, it typically triggers intense scrutiny of ride maintenance, rider restraints, and operator procedures.
In recent years, several amusement park incidents have led to temporary closures and new safety measures. Regulators and park operators have faced calls for stronger oversight of ride inspections, particularly for older coasters that have been in service for decades.
Six Flags operates parks across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company has not announced any broader changes to its safety protocols beyond the temporary closures.
What riders should know
Visitors planning trips to the affected parks should check the park’s website or app before visiting, as ride availability can change day to day during the inspection period. The company emphasized that the closures are temporary.
Cobb County police said their investigation into the Georgia incident is ongoing. Further details about the cause of the fall have not been released. Anyone with information or video from the scene has been encouraged to contact investigators.