Beloved Teacher Dies After Terrifying Fall From Six Flags’ Goliath Roller Coaster as Family Seeks Answers

Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, a 42-year-old father and respected educator, died after being ejected from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. As loved ones mourn his loss, witness accounts and questions about the ride’s safety have intensified calls for answers.

A day that began as a family outing ended in tragedy when a beloved Atlanta educator died after falling from one of the towering roller coasters at Six Flags Over Georgia.

Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, was riding the Goliath attraction on October 12 when he was ejected from the moving coaster, according to published reports. The incident shocked fellow riders and left his family facing an unexpected and devastating loss.

In the days following his death, witnesses described the frightening moments surrounding the fall, while relatives shared accounts that raised questions about what happened immediately before the tragedy.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances of the incident. Although preliminary reports have described Kariem being thrown from the ride, the precise cause of the fall has not been publicly established.

Witnesses Describe a Frightening Incident

Passengers aboard the Goliath roller coaster reported seeing Kariem leave his seat while the attraction was moving.

Witness Logan Conner told NBC News that he saw the rider become airborne beside the coaster. According to his account, Kariem struck the moving cars before falling toward the ground.

The incident unfolded in front of other passengers, turning an ordinary amusement-park experience into a traumatic event.

Reports also indicated that the ride’s automatic souvenir photographs captured moments associated with the incident, adding to the distress experienced by those who later learned what had happened.

Authorities have confirmed that Kariem was ejected from the attraction. However, witness observations alone cannot establish why he fell or whether a mechanical problem contributed to the incident.

Investigators will need to determine the sequence of events using available evidence, technical examinations and witness statements.

Family Raises Questions About What Happened Before the Fall

Kariem’s relatives have shared additional details about the moments leading up to his death.

His brother-in-law, Joshua Nelson, told local television station WSB-TV that Nelson’s 13-year-old daughter had been riding beside Kariem during a family outing to celebrate her birthday.

According to Nelson’s account of the teenager’s recollection, Kariem appeared to lose consciousness before the restraint reportedly came loose.

The account has prompted questions about whether a medical event occurred, whether the restraint functioned properly or whether another factor contributed to the fall.

At this stage, those possibilities remain unconfirmed. Investigators have not publicly established that Kariem fainted or that the ride’s restraint system malfunctioned.

Determining the cause will require a careful examination of the attraction and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

For the family, however, the unanswered questions have become part of an already painful grieving process.

A Dedicated Educator Whose Life Touched Students

Away from the amusement park, Kariem was known as a dedicated educator who spent years helping students learn and develop their technology skills.

He worked at Wesley International Academy in Atlanta, serving as an information technology manager after previously working as a technology teacher. Reports indicated that he had contributed to the school community for more than 12 years.

Colleagues and members of the education community remembered him as a valued member of the school whose work had a meaningful impact on students and fellow staff members.

Atlanta Public Schools expressed condolences following his death, recognizing the loss felt by the school community.

Relatives also spoke about Kariem’s resilience and character. His cousin, Marcus Bentley, recalled the challenges he had overcome during his life, including cancer and a serious car crash.

These recollections have helped shift attention beyond the circumstances of his death to the person his family, colleagues and students knew.

For those who worked alongside him, Kariem was more than the victim of a tragic amusement-park accident. He was an educator whose years of service had left a lasting impression on the people around him.

Questions About Roller Coaster Safety

The fatal incident has also drawn attention to the safety systems used on major amusement-park attractions.

Goliath is a large steel roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, located in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The attraction reaches approximately 200 feet in height and speeds of up to 70 mph.

Unlike some roller coasters that use restraints extending over a rider’s shoulders, Goliath uses lap-bar restraints designed to secure passengers during the ride.

Following Kariem’s death, reports indicated that the attraction was closed while authorities and park officials examined the incident. Six Flags also temporarily closed several similar large roller coasters at other parks as a precaution.

The company expressed condolences to Kariem’s family and said it was cooperating with the investigation.

Reports also stated that the attraction had passed an inspection earlier in 2026. However, a previous inspection does not, by itself, determine whether a restraint malfunctioned during a later ride or establish the cause of an accident.

Investigators must establish whether the restraint operated as intended, whether the rider experienced a medical emergency and whether any other circumstances contributed to the fall.

Until those findings are available, it would be premature to attribute the death to a specific equipment failure or procedural lapse.

Could the Tragedy Have Been Prevented?

For Kariem’s family, understanding what happened is about more than reconstructing the final moments of his life. It is also about determining whether anything could have prevented his death.

The investigation