“GENUINELY HORRIFYING” — WIFE WAITED NEAR THE ROLLER COASTER EXIT AS A FAMILY OUTING TURNED INTO A NIGHTMARE

Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem’s family trip to Six Flags Over Georgia ended in unimaginable heartbreak. The 42-year-old educator died after being ejected from the Goliath roller coaster, while relatives are left searching for answers about what happened.

What was supposed to be a joyful birthday celebration became a tragedy that a family will never forget.

On October 12, 2026, Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem was visiting Six Flags Over Georgia near Atlanta with relatives to celebrate his niece’s birthday. He was riding Goliath, a towering roller coaster that reaches approximately 200 feet and speeds of up to 70 mph, when the devastating incident occurred.

A FAMILY’S DAY OUT BECOMES A TRAGEDY

According to relatives interviewed by news outlets, Kariem’s niece said he appeared to pass out during the ride shortly before he fell from his seat. That account has not established the medical cause of the incident, and investigators have not yet confirmed what led to his ejection.

His family is now facing the loss of a man remembered not only as an educator but also as a devoted father and beloved relative. Kariem worked in technology education with Atlanta Public Schools and was raising a 10-year-old daughter.

Reports have also described the distress surrounding the incident at the park. However, details about exactly where his wife was standing and the moment she learned the victim was her husband have not been consistently confirmed by the official accounts reviewed.

FOUR OTHER RIDERS WERE INJURED

The Cobb County Police Department said preliminary information gathered from witness and employee interviews indicated that Kariem was ejected from the ride, struck other patrons and then fell beneath the attraction.

Four other people, all minors, suffered injuries that authorities described as non-life-threatening. The police department’s Major Crimes Unit launched an investigation, while Georgia’s state ride-safety regulators also began examining the circumstances.

The central question remains: What caused Kariem to leave his seat?

Investigators have not announced a definitive explanation. His family has publicly questioned whether the tragedy could have been prevented, but it would be premature to conclude that a restraint malfunction or another specific safety failure caused the incident.

A LEGACY THAT GOES FAR BEYOND ONE TRAGIC DAY

Kariem’s relatives have described him as a source of warmth and joy in their family. In the days after his death, they also asked the public not to watch or share footage of his final moments and warned that they had not authorized online fundraisers in his name.

Six Flags Over Georgia temporarily closed Goliath following the incident. The park later reopened, while the coaster remained closed as the investigation continued. Similar rides at other parks were also temporarily shut for precautionary inspections.

For Kariem’s loved ones, the questions surrounding that afternoon remain, but so does the memory of a father, educator and family member whose life meant far more than the circumstances of his death.

💔 Our thoughts are with Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem’s daughter, wife, relatives and everyone affected by this tragedy.

👇 READ THE FULL STORY IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.