Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia has temporarily closed its Goliath roller coaster, part of a wider shutdown of similar rides across Six Flags parks in the U.S. and Canada. The move comes after a fatal incident at Six Flags Over Georgia, where a rider was ejected from a roller coaster earlier this week.
On Monday afternoon, Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, a 42-year-old Atlanta resident, was ejected from a roller coaster at the Austell, Georgia, park. The Cobb County Police Department reported that Kariem struck other riders as he fell, landing beneath the coaster where he was found unconscious and not breathing just before 4 p.m. The police department’s major crimes unit is currently investigating the incident.
Following the fatality, Six Flags park officials closed the Goliath roller coaster at the Georgia location. They have since stated that the subsequent closures of other rides, including Magic Mountain’s Goliath, are being conducted “out of an abundance of caution” and are considered temporary.
Lisa N. Cupid, chairwoman of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, commented on the tragedy, expressing that she could not “imagine the horror the patrons and employees witnessed” and that her “heart aches for the family.” She also noted the park's significance to the region's tourism, drawing visitors from across its county, state, and the Southeast.
This recent closure marks the second major ride shutdown at Six Flags Magic Mountain in a matter of weeks. In September, the park permanently closed its renowned X2 roller coaster, a ride with a documented history of injuries, some of which had led to deaths. The X2 had been temporarily closed in July after reports of "back-to-back brain injuries."
Originally launched as X in 2002, the ride faced an early closure for design flaw repairs. It was later closed again in 2007 for lighter train replacements before reopening as X2 the following year. Known for its unique design where seats spin 360 degrees forward and backward while riders’ feet dangle, X2 has been a major attraction, having hosted over 16 million riders, according to Magic Mountain.
Six Flags Magic Mountain president Brian Oerding explained the decision to close X2 in September, stating that while the ride consistently passed safety tests, the park felt it was the right thing to do when guest confidence was affected. He emphasized that "ride safety is a cornerstone of our business."
The Goliath roller coaster in Georgia, which celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this year, is described on the park's website as "an intense 70-mile-per-hour thrill ride" that reaches 200 feet in height. Details on how long the similar Goliath coaster in Valencia will remain closed have not been released, as the investigation into the Georgia incident continues.
