Six Flags said it would add seat belts to some of its roller coaster rides after the death of a man at its theme park in Georgia this month.
Six Flags chief executive John Reilly said in a statement Friday the company was “taking additional measures, including adding seat belts on Goliath and other coasters with a similar restraint.”
Goliath remains closed “pending necessary safety reviews and clearances,” Reilly said. Eight rides at five other parks are temporarily closed “out of an abundance of caution,” he added.
Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, died after he fell from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Oct. 12. Investigators saytheir initial findings suggest he “was ejected from the ride and struck other patrons before falling beneath the attraction.”
The 200-feet-tall Goliath has a top speed of 70 mph, according to the park. The attraction used lap bars to restrain riders, the Associated Press reports.
The office of Georgia’s Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner said the roller coaster was last inspected in March, and no violations were reported during that inspection. The department was now conducting “an in-depth examination of the ride, its operation, and records to determine … whether all applicable state safety requirements were followed.”
The incident in Georgia came weeks after Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, announced it would permanently close its popular X2 roller coaster amid lawsuits from people who alleged they had experienced brain damage from the ride.
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