Six Flags renames Fright Fest show after fatal Georgia roller coaster fall
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The amusement park reopened Friday, but Goliath remains closed as investigators examine the death of 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem.
Six Flags Over Georgia has renamed a Fright Fest show following the death of a guest on its Goliath roller coaster. The production formerly known as “Dr. Fright’s Dead Man’s Party” is now listed as “Dr. Fright’s Party” in the park’s promotional materials.
The park confirmed the Fright Fest show change to USA TODAY on Thursday (October 15), saying it made the adjustment out of respect for the incident and those affected. Advertisements published before the death carried the original name, while more recent listings use the shorter title.
The change followed the October 12 death of 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem. Cobb County police said preliminary witness and employee interviews indicate Kariem was ejected from Goliath, struck other park guests and fell beneath the attraction. Officers found him unresponsive shortly before 4 p.m. Investigators have not determined why he fell.
Kariem was an IT manager at Wesley International Academy in Atlanta. He was visiting the park with family to celebrate his niece’s birthday, relatives told reporters. Four children were taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries after the incident, Cobb County police confirmed.
Six Flags Over Georgia reopened on Friday for its scheduled Fright Fest activities, but Goliath remained closed. The company also temporarily closed nine similar roller coasters at six other park locations as a precaution. It has not announced a reopening date for Goliath.
Georgia’s Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire is reviewing the ride, its operations and inspection records. The agency said its last inspection of Goliath, on March 16, found no violations or deficiencies. Cobb County police are investigating separately.
The accident comes amid broader concern over amusement ride safety. In an unrelated case, a Florida jury awarded $310 million in 2024 to the parents of Tyre Sampson, who died after falling from an Orlando amusement ride in 2022. That case involved a different attraction and operator.