“HE SURVIVED CANCER AND A TERRIFYING CAR FIRE — THEN A FAMILY DAY ENDED IN TRAGEDY” — HASSAN JIHAD IBN KARIEM DIES AFTER SIX FLAGS ROLLER COASTER INCIDENT

The 42-year-old Atlanta school employee was remembered as a kind, generous man whose death has left loved ones devastated. Investigators are still working to determine what happened.

A family outing at Six Flags Over Georgia ended in tragedy on October 12, 2026, when Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, died after being ejected from a roller coaster, according to authorities. The incident also left four other riders injured, all of them minors, police said.

Kariem, who lived in Atlanta, Georgia, worked as an IT manager at Wesley International Academy. His death has shocked members of his school community and family, who remember him as a caring person who was always willing to help others.

A TRAGEDY THAT RAISED URGENT QUESTIONS

The incident happened shortly before 4 p.m. on Monday at Six Flags Over Georgia, near Atlanta. According to the Cobb County Police Department, officers responded to the scene and found Kariem beneath the ride, unresponsive and not breathing.

Preliminary information gathered from witnesses and park employees indicated that Kariem was thrown from the roller coaster and struck other riders before falling beneath the attraction. Authorities have not yet established what caused him to leave his seat, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Witness Nick Mendenhall told the Associated Press that he saw Kariem come out of his seat as the coaster passed overhead. The incident unfolded in moments, leaving witnesses horrified.

The ride involved was identified in subsequent reporting as Goliath, one of the park’s major attractions. The coaster features a steep 200-foot first drop and reaches speeds of approximately 70 mph. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident, including how the rider became ejected.

HE HAD ALREADY FACED SERIOUS HEALTH CHALLENGES

According to reporting by The Guardian, Kariem’s relatives said he had overcome two bouts of cancer, with his most recent battle taking place in 2018. His family also described a frightening car fire involving Kariem and his daughter just weeks before the roller coaster incident; they reportedly escaped without injuries.

Those close to him remembered a man who had faced difficult moments but continued to be a positive presence in the lives of others.

His cousin She Robinson described him to the Associated Press as a “gentle giant” whom people loved. Another relative, Kelvin Johnson, recalled Kariem as kind, considerate and someone who would readily volunteer to help when needed.

NINE ROLLER COASTERS TEMPORARILY CLOSED

In the aftermath of the incident, Six Flags temporarily closed nine similar roller coasters across six amusement parks in North America as a precaution while questions about ride safety came under renewed scrutiny. The company said it was cooperating with authorities and offering support to affected guests and employees.

The Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire is also reviewing the incident. Officials have not announced a final determination about the cause, and it would be premature to conclude that a mechanical failure or restraint malfunction was responsible.

FAMILY ASKS FOR PRIVACY AND RESPECT

As the investigation continues, Kariem’s family is grieving a loss they say has been made even harder by disturbing images of the incident circulating online.

In a statement reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, relatives asked the public not to share footage of his final moments. They also warned people against donating to online fundraisers claiming to be raising money in his name, explaining that the family has not authorized any such campaigns. If a fund or scholarship is established in his memory, the family said it would be announced through an official representative.

For those who knew Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, he was more than the victim of a devastating amusement park incident. He was a valued member of his school community, a loved one, and a person remembered for his generosity and warmth.

As investigators work to establish exactly what happened that afternoon, his family is asking for privacy, compassion and respect during an unimaginable time.

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