One dead, several injured in roller coaster incident in Austell

A person died and several people suffered injuries Monday afternoon during an incident on a roller coaster in Austell. Emergency responders treated victims on scene. Officials have not confirmed how the person died. They also have not shared what caused the other injuries.

The event took place at Six Flags Over Georgia, according to the Cobb County Police Department. The park sits about 15 miles northwest of Atlanta. Detectives with the department’s major crimes unit will lead the investigation.

A spokesperson for Six Flags said park staff and local authorities responded right away. The park is cooperating with local officials during the inquiry.

“We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today,” the spokesperson said.

Theme parks feature mechanical rides that require regular maintenance checks and routine safety inspections. Major crimes detectives often review fatal industrial events in Austell to establish exact timelines.

Last month, Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California said it was retiring the X2 coaster. That decision followed legal filings that claimed the ride caused serious brain harm. Six Flags recently settled a wrongful-death lawsuit with relatives of a 22-year-old man. He died in 2022 after he rode the ride. Three more lawsuits alleged traumatic brain injuries last week.

Last year, a 32-year-old man died after a ride at Universal Epic Universe in Florida. He died from blunt impact trauma. Medical examiners ruled the death accidental.