The family of a man who died on the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia says he was sitting next to his niece when he was ejected from the ride.
Hassan Kariem’s family is remembering him as a dedicated father, husband, and brother. “He loved everything about Atlanta. He loved kids. He loved technology,” said Joshua Nelson, Kariem’s brother-in-law.
Kariem’s wife and daughter, along with his niece, all went to Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday to celebrate a birthday. Kariem’s daughter was turning 13 years old
The Final Moments
“His last words were to my daughter, and they were, ‘This is my favorite ride. I’m so excited to be here,'” Nelson said.
Investigators say Kariem was ejected from the Goliath coaster and fell to his death on Monday. Nelson says his daughter sat right next to Kariem. “How she described it was, he went up. I guess as the ride was going, he would go up, he went down, went up, down, and the third or fourth time it happened, the latch came undone, and that’s when he fell out,” Nelson said.
“When it first happened, she called me when they got her off the ride, crying. She was like, I don’t know where he went.”
The Investigation
The Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire says the Goliath was last inspected in March and showed no warning signs. But Nelson says the family is patiently holding out for answers.
“We’re banding together and once the investigation is done, give him the proper sendoff,” he said.
The Bottom Line
Hassan Kariem died Monday after being ejected from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. His family says he was sitting next to his niece when the latch came undone. The ride was last inspected in March and showed no warning signs. The family is awaiting the results of the investigation before holding a proper sendoff.
My Opinion
Hassan Kariem took his family to Six Flags to celebrate his daughter’s 13th birthday. He told his daughter this was his favorite ride. He was excited. And then the latch came undone, and he fell to his death while his daughter watched.
There are no words for what that family is going through. But there are questions that must be answered. The Goliath was last inspected in March. That was seven months ago. Seven months is a long time for a roller coaster that carries thousands of people every week. What happened between March and October? What changed? Who checked the restraints? Who signed off on their safety?
Six Flags will say it has an impeccable safety record. It will point to inspections and regulations and protocols. But a man is dead. His daughter is traumatized and the family deserves more than a statement from a corporate communications team.
The investigation will take time. It will produce reports and findings and conclusions. But no report will bring Hassan Kariem back. No finding will undo what his daughter saw. The only thing that can come from this tragedy is accountability. And that is the very least his family deserves.
