DAD’S FINAL ROLLERCOASTER RIDE: NIECE’S 13TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION ENDS IN HEARTBREAK AFTER SIX FLAGS TRAGEDY

Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, was celebrating his young niece’s birthday at Six Flags Over Georgia when he was ejected from the Goliath roller coaster. His niece was sitting beside him and later recounted the terrifying moments to her family. As investigators work to establish what happened, loved ones are remembering a devoted father, educator and technology enthusiast.

What was supposed to be a joyful family celebration has become an unimaginable tragedy for the loved ones of Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem.

The 42-year-old Atlanta resident was visiting Six Flags Over Georgia on October 12, 2026, to celebrate his niece Navi’s 13th birthday. The family had gathered for a day of excitement, hoping to create happy memories together. Instead, the outing ended with a devastating loss that has left relatives struggling to understand how everything changed so suddenly.

Kariem was riding the Goliath roller coaster alongside his niece when the incident occurred. According to accounts shared by his family, the teenager witnessed what happened from the seat beside him.

Authorities confirmed that Kariem was ejected from the ride and fell beneath the attraction. Investigators have not yet established the precise cause of the incident, and the circumstances surrounding the restraint and his fall remain under examination. <Cite refs={[“turn184618search1″,”turn184618search2”]}/>

“HE PASSED OUT” — A NIECE’S TERRIFYING ACCOUNT

In the days following the incident, Kariem’s family shared details of the account given by his niece, who was sitting beside him on the ride.

According to her father, Joshua Nelson, Navi recalled that her uncle appeared to lose consciousness before his restraint seemingly came loose. Nelson recounted her description in an interview with Atlanta television station WSB-TV.

The teenager was left deeply shaken by what she witnessed. Her family has described the shock and distress surrounding the incident, as they try to support her while coping with their own grief.

Nelson also recalled what Kariem reportedly said before boarding the ride. Excited about the experience, he told his niece that it was one of his favourite rides and expressed how happy he was to be there.

For the family, those words have taken on a heartbreaking significance.

Nelson said he hoped those moments of excitement were among Kariem’s last memories, rather than the terrifying events that followed. His comments reflected a relative’s desperate wish to find some comfort amid an otherwise devastating situation.

However, the account of the restraint coming loose has not been confirmed as the cause of the incident. Investigators are examining the available evidence to determine exactly what happened.

A BELOVED FATHER WHO DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO EDUCATION

Away from the headlines, Kariem was known as a devoted father and a valued member of Atlanta’s education community.

He worked as an IT manager at Wesley International Academy, where he had previously served as a technology teacher. His work brought together two interests that were central to his life: technology and helping young people learn.

The school community remembered him as someone whose commitment to students and colleagues extended beyond his professional responsibilities. Atlanta Public Schools also expressed condolences, describing him as a cherished member of its wider community.

Kariem’s family said he loved Atlanta, enjoyed working with children and had a deep enthusiasm for technology. He was remembered not simply for his career, but for his generosity, warmth and willingness to help others.

Those who knew him have been left grieving a man whose life revolved around family, education and the interests he loved.

His death has also brought renewed attention to the people who are often overlooked when a tragedy becomes a major news story: the family members, colleagues, students and friends who must learn to live with the absence of someone important to them.

A FAMILY STILL SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS

As the investigation continues, Kariem’s relatives are facing two painful realities at once: mourning their loved one and waiting to learn what caused his death.

Nelson has acknowledged that part of him believes the incident may have been a freak accident, while another part continues to question whether it could have been prevented.

That uncertainty has become a central concern for the family.

The Goliath roller coaster is a major attraction at Six Flags Over Georgia, rising approximately 200 feet and reaching speeds of up to 70 miles per hour. It uses a lap-bar restraint system designed to secure riders during the ride.

The attraction had passed its latest annual state inspection in March 2026, according to documents reviewed by The Associated Press. Earlier inspections had identified other maintenance issues, but the available records did not show restraint-related violations. Those historical findings do not, by themselves, establish what happened during Kariem’s ride.

The ride’s manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard, has said it is investigating the incident and would not comment further until it had a clearer understanding of the circumstances.

NINE SIMILAR ROLLER COASTERS TEMPORARILY CLOSED

The tragedy has prompted wider questions about amusement park safety.

Following Kariem’s death, similar roller coasters at other parks were temporarily closed as a precaution. The Associated Press reported that the affected attractions shared a similar restraint system and were manufactured by the same company.

Six Flags Over Georgia also temporarily suspended operations following the incident. The park reopened on October 16, but Goliath remained closed while the investigation continued.

The park said it was cooperating fully with authorities and expressed heartfelt condolences to Kariem’s family, friends and loved ones. It also said support was being provided to guests and employees affected by the incident.

The temporary closures do not establish that the restraint system was responsible for Kariem’s death. Rather, they reflect the precautionary response while investigators and the manufacturer work to understand what occurred.

The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances of the incident and the available evidence before conclusions can be drawn. =

THE HIDDEN COST OF A TRAGEDY WITNESSED BY A CHILD

One of the most distressing aspects of the incident is that Kariem’s niece was sitting beside him when it happened.

The family had planned the outing to celebrate her 13th birthday, an occasion that should have been filled with laughter, excitement and happy memories. Instead, the teenager witnessed a traumatic event involving someone she loved.

Her family now faces the difficult task of grieving while supporting a young person who was directly exposed to the tragedy.

Their experience is a reminder that the effects of a fatal accident can extend far beyond the person who dies. Loved ones who witness an emergency may carry emotional consequences long after the initial shock has passed.

As the investigation continues, the family’s immediate priority is to support one another and remember Kariem for the person he was before the tragedy became a headline.

MORE THAN A NEWS STORY — A LIFE REMEMBERED

As details of the incident spread online, relatives have also urged people to treat the family with sensitivity and avoid sharing distressing images of what happened.

For those closest to Kariem, the loss is not an abstract discussion about roller coaster safety. It is the loss of a father, an uncle, a colleague and a loved one whose presence mattered deeply to the people around him.

His final outing had been planned as a celebration. His reported excitement before boarding the ride is now a memory his family is holding on to as they try to make sense of what followed.

The questions surrounding the incident remain serious and deserve a thorough investigation. If evidence identifies failures, those findings will be important for accountability and for preventing similar tragedies. But until investigators establish the facts, speculation about the cause should not be mistaken for a confirmed explanation.

For now, Kariem’s family is left with grief, uncertainty and memories of a man they loved.

A birthday celebration became a day his family will never forget for reasons they could never have imagined. As investigators search for answers, Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem’s loved ones are asking the world to remember more than the way he died — and to remember the father, educator and caring family member whose life meant so much to those around him.