Cobb County leaders and police officials held a joint press conference on Friday afternoon to address community concerns and provide context following the fatal incident aboard the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. The tragedy, which occurred just before 4:00 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 12, resulted in the death of 42-year-old Atlanta educator Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem and left four minor passengers hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Cobb County Briefing and Ongoing Multi-Agency Investigation
Cobb County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Lisa Cupid and representatives from the Cobb County Police Department spoke at 2 p.m. from the Board of Commissioners conference room in Marietta. Officials stated the briefing was organized to address mounting public questions, outline law enforcement’s role in the multi-agency inquiry, and clarify agency jurisdictions. County communications officials emphasized that no new investigative findings or substantive case updates were released during the session.
The press conference took place just hours before Six Flags Over Georgia reopened its gates at 6 p.m. Friday for Fright Fest, marking the park’s first day of operation since Monday. While the theme park resumed normal weekend scheduling, the Goliath hypercoaster remains closed indefinitely.
State Inspection Records and Regulatory Oversight
Under Georgia amusement ride safety regulations, any attraction involved in a fatality or serious injury must remain secured and out of service until the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire (OCI) completes an independent safety and regulatory investigation.
Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King confirmed that Goliath passed its mandatory annual review on March 16, 2026, with zero citations, violations, or mechanical red tags reported. However, newly obtained state inspection logs noted that inspectors recorded bushings needing replacement during that same March review. Bushings are mechanical components designed to reduce friction and vibration, though state officials have not established whether the part noted had any connection to the accident.
State engineers, mechanical inspectors, and investigators from the Cobb County Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit continue examining ride hardware, maintenance logs, computerized sensors, and restraint systems. Authorities have not yet determined the exact sequence of events that led to Kariem being ejected from the moving train.
Family Remembrance and Community Response
Loved ones remember Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem as the “sunshine of our family,” a dedicated information technology professional and educator at Wesley International Academy in Atlanta, and a two-time lymphoma survivor. Relatives shared that Kariem and his partner’s 13-year-old niece were riding Goliath to celebrate her birthday when the accident happened. The niece, who was seated directly beside him, was not physically injured.
Amid their profound grief, family members have urged the public to respect their privacy, stop sharing video footage of the incident on social media, and refrain from donating to unauthorized online fundraising campaigns established in his name.
Key Safety and Investigation Facts
- Incident Date: Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, shortly before 4:00 p.m.
- Location: Goliath hypercoaster, Six Flags Over Georgia, Austell, Georgia.
- Victim: Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, of Atlanta.
- Injuries: Four minor passengers transported to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
- Last State Inspection: March 16, 2026 (passed with no official safety violations or red tags).
- Current Status: Goliath remains closed indefinitely pending completion of state and local investigations.
Authorities urge anyone with information regarding the incident to contact the Cobb County Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit at 770-499-3945 as the investigation continues.
