“THE RIDE THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING” — FATHER AND BELOVED SCHOOL EDUCATOR DIES IN SIX FLAGS ROLLER COASTER TRAGEDY

Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, died after being ejected from a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. As investigators work to establish what happened, loved ones are remembering the Atlanta educator whose life extended far beyond the headlines.

A day at an amusement park has ended in heartbreak after a 42-year-old father died in a roller coaster incident that is now under investigation.

Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, of Atlanta, Georgia, died on Monday afternoon, October 12, 2026, at Six Flags Over Georgia in Mableton. According to the Cobb County Police Department, officers responded at approximately 3:58 p.m. and found him beneath a roller coaster, unresponsive and not breathing.

Investigators said preliminary information gathered from witnesses and park employees indicated that Kariem had been ejected from the ride, struck other guests and then fell beneath the attraction. Several other people were also reported injured.

Authorities have not yet publicly established what caused him to be ejected.

Witness accounts raise questions about the ride

In the hours following the incident, accounts from park visitors raised questions about the ride’s safety restraints and what happened before the roller coaster began moving.

Some riders reportedly described unusual clicking sounds from the restraints and said staff checked them more than once. Other reports said the ride had been taken out of service earlier that day for maintenance.

These accounts have drawn attention as investigators examine the circumstances surrounding the incident. However, witness descriptions alone do not establish that a mechanical failure occurred or explain why Kariem was ejected.

The Cobb County Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit is leading the investigation. Six Flags has said it is cooperating with authorities and offering support to those affected.

The Goliath roller coaster has been temporarily closed while the investigation continues. Other similar rides at Six Flags parks were also temporarily taken out of operation as a precaution.

Remembering the man behind the headlines

Kariem worked as an IT manager at Wesley International Academy, where he had previously served as a technology teacher. Atlanta Public Schools described him as a cherished member of its school community and expressed condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and students.

His family told local media that he had overcome two bouts of cancer. They also shared that he and his daughter had survived a car fire several weeks before the roller coaster tragedy.

Those close to him are now facing a loss that has left his family and wider community grieving.

For the people who knew Kariem as a father, educator and friend, his life cannot be defined by the final moments of the incident. His work with students and the relationships he built remain part of the legacy being remembered.

An investigation with important questions still unanswered

Investigators continue to examine how the incident unfolded and what may have contributed to the fatal ejection. The park’s cooperation and the accounts collected from witnesses and employees are part of that ongoing process.

Until authorities release further findings, the cause of the incident remains unconfirmed.

A family is mourning a loved one, a school community is remembering a valued educator, and questions remain about the circumstances of a tragedy that unfolded during what should have been an ordinary day at an amusement park.

READ THE FULL STORY AND SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE COMMENTS.