“HE SURVIVED CANCER TWICE — THEN A FAMILY DAY OUT ENDED IN TRAGEDY” — HASSAN KARIEM’S FINAL RIDE AT SIX FLAGS

A beloved father, teacher and robotics coach died after being ejected from a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. As investigators work to establish what happened, his family and school community are left mourning a man whose life touched so many.

What was supposed to be a family outing became an unimaginable tragedy for Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem.

The 42-year-old Atlanta man died on October 12, 2026, after an incident involving the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell, near Atlanta.

According to Cobb County police, preliminary information gathered from witnesses and employees indicated that Kariem was ejected from the ride, struck other passengers and fell beneath the attraction. He was found unresponsive, and the incident remains under investigation.

Several other riders were injured. Authorities later confirmed that four young passengers were taken to hospitals with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

But beyond the frightening circumstances of the incident, Kariem’s death has left a family, colleagues and students grieving someone remembered for much more than the way his life ended.

A FATHER WHO HAD ALREADY OVERCOME SO MUCH

Kariem was a father to a 10-year-old daughter and, according to his family, had already faced extraordinary challenges.

His loved ones said he had survived two bouts of cancer. They also described how he and his daughter had recently survived a car fire, just weeks before the roller-coaster incident.

Those experiences make the sudden loss all the more heartbreaking for the people who knew him.

For his family, Hassan was not simply the man at the centre of a national news story. He was a father, a loved one and someone whose presence could never be replaced.

A TEACHER WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE

Kariem worked at Wesley International Academy in Atlanta for more than 12 years.

He served as an information technology manager, technology teacher and robotics coach, helping students develop their skills and explore technology.

Atlanta Public Schools described him as a cherished member of its community, extending condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

At Wesley International Academy, he was remembered as a valued colleague whose dedication to students and commitment to the school had made a lasting impression.

His death has left members of the school community mourning a familiar face who had spent years helping young people learn and grow.

QUESTIONS SURROUNDING THE ROLLER-COASTER INCIDENT

In the days following the incident, witness accounts drew attention to unusual clicking sounds reportedly heard around the ride’s restraints before it began operating.

Those accounts have not, by themselves, established that a mechanical malfunction occurred or explained why Kariem was ejected.

Cobb County police are investigating the circumstances, while Georgia’s state safety officials are also reviewing the incident. The ride’s manufacturer is involved in the investigation.

Six Flags temporarily closed several similar roller coasters across its parks as a precaution. The Goliath attraction remained closed as officials continued examining what happened.

Investigators have not publicly established the cause of the incident.

A FAMILY’S LOSS THAT GOES BEYOND THE HEADLINES

The tragedy has prompted renewed questions about amusement-park ride safety, but Kariem’s loved ones are facing something far more personal: life without a father, family member and friend.

His story is a reminder that behind every breaking-news headline is a person with relationships, ambitions and memories that cannot be captured in a few lines of reporting.

Hassan Kariem was an educator who spent years supporting students, a father who shared precious time with his daughter, and a man whose family said he had already overcome serious challenges.

Now, as investigators continue their work, those who knew him are left to remember the life he lived.

May Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem rest in peace. Our thoughts are with his daughter, family, students and colleagues during this devastating time. 🤍