“HE PASSED OUT — THEN HIS RESTRAINT ALLEGEDLY CAME LOOSE”: HEARTBREAKING NEW DETAILS EMERGE IN SIX FLAGS ROLLER COASTER TR@GEDY

ThanhThuy
October 16, 2026

“HE PASSED OUT — THEN HIS RESTRAINT ALLEGEDLY CAME LOOSE”: HEARTBREAKING NEW DETAILS EMERGE IN SIX FLAGS ROLLER COASTER TRAGEDY

Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, was celebrating his 13-year-old niece’s birthday when he fell from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. His niece reportedly told her father that Hassan lost consciousness before his restraint came loose. Investigators have not yet confirmed what caused the fatal incident.

What should have been a joyful birthday celebration has become an unimaginable memory for a family grieving the sudden loss of a loved one.

Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, a 42-year-old technology educator from Atlanta, Georgia, died on October 12, 2026, after being ejected from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia.

Now, new details shared by his relatives have raised further questions about what happened during the ride.

According to a report published by The Sun on October 16, Hassan was sitting beside his 13-year-old niece when the tragedy unfolded. The girl had been celebrating her birthday at the amusement park with family members.

Her father, Joshua Nelson, later described the emotional phone call he received after the ride ended.

“HE FAINTED, OR HE PASSED OUT”

Nelson told WSB-TV that his daughter said Hassan appeared to lose consciousness during the ride.

According to Nelson’s account of what she told him, the coaster continued moving before the girl reported that Hassan’s restraint had allegedly snapped or come loose.

She then saw him fall from the attraction.

The teenager reportedly called her father in tears, struggling to understand what had happened to her uncle. What had begun as a birthday outing had suddenly turned into a traumatic experience that the family will never forget.

These details remain a family-reported account of the incident. Investigators have not publicly confirmed that Hassan fainted or that a restraint malfunction caused his fall.

A FAMILY WAITING FOR ANSWERS

Hassan’s fiancée, Eboni, was waiting outside the attraction when the incident occurred.

According to reports, she sensed that something was wrong but did not initially know that Hassan had fallen. She later heard an announcement that someone had died at the park and feared the victim might be her partner.

The news that followed devastated the family.

Cobb County police said officers responded at approximately 3:58 p.m. and found Hassan beneath the attraction, unresponsive and not breathing.

Preliminary information from witness and employee interviews indicated that he had been ejected from the ride, struck other guests and fallen beneath the coaster.

Four children also sustained injuries and were taken to hospital. Their injuries were reported as non-life-threatening.

Authorities have not established publicly what caused Hassan to leave his seat, and the investigation remains ongoing.

A BELOVED EDUCATOR REMEMBERED BY HIS COMMUNITY

Away from the amusement park, Hassan was known for his dedication to education and his work with young people.

He worked at Wesley International Academy in Atlanta, where he served as a technology teacher, IT manager and robotics coach.

The school community remembered him as a valued colleague whose commitment to students had made a lasting impact.

His family also described a man who had overcome significant challenges, including two bouts of cancer. Relatives said he had survived a car fire with a family member just weeks before the roller coaster tragedy.

Those who loved him are now asking the public to remember his life rather than focus on disturbing images of his final moments.

His family has also warned that it has not authorised online fundraisers in his name and urged people to avoid donating to unauthorised accounts.

SAFETY QUESTIONS SPREAD BEYOND GEORGIA

The tragedy has prompted renewed scrutiny of roller coaster safety.

The Associated Press reported on October 15 that 11 roller coasters at amusement parks in the United States and Canada had been temporarily taken out of service for safety reviews following Hassan’s death.

Some riders had reported concerns about restraints on the Goliath before the fatal incident. However, those reports do not establish that a defect caused Hassan’s fall.

The Goliath, which reaches heights of approximately 200 feet and speeds of up to 70 mph, remains closed while authorities investigate. Six Flags has said it is cooperating with the investigation.

The central questions remain unanswered: what happened to Hassan during the ride, why was he ejected, and did any equipment issue contribute to the incident?

Investigators will need to establish the facts before those questions can be answered.

A BIRTHDAY THAT BECAME A TRAGEDY

For Hassan’s family, the investigation is only one part of an extraordinarily painful period.

His niece went to the park to celebrate turning 13. Instead, she witnessed a frightening event involving a family member she loved. Her father has described her as resilient, but the emotional impact of such an experience may take time to process.

Hassan’s relatives are left grieving a man whose life involved far more than the circumstances of his death — a partner, an educator, a family member and someone whose presence mattered deeply to those around him.

As authorities continue examining the incident, his loved ones are asking for privacy and compassion.

A day meant to create happy birthday memories has become a heartbreaking loss. Hassan’s family is now waiting for answers while asking the public to remember the person he was, not simply the tragedy that took his life.