Six Flags closes 9 rides after fatal Austell coaster incident
One person died and several others were injured Monday during a coaster incident in Austell, Georgia. Six Flags shut down nine attractions across six parks nationwide following the fatal event.
Officials did not confirm how the person died. They did not confirm how the others were injured or their medical conditions.
The incident occurred at Six Flags Over Georgia, located about 15 miles northwest of Atlanta. The Cobb County Police Department major crimes unit detectives are investigating the matter.
Company leadership closed rides similar to the Austell coaster out of an abundance of caution, according to a Six Flags Entertainment Corporation spokesperson. Park staff and local authorities responded immediately, the spokesperson said. The park is cooperating with the police investigation.
The spokesperson said the company has temporarily closed these attractions:
- Six Flags Great America – Raging Bull
- Six Flags Magic Mountain – Goliath
- Six Flags Great Adventure – Nitro
- Canada’s Wonderland – Leviathan and Behemoth
- Carowinds – Fury 325 and Thunder Striker
- Kings Island – Orion and Diamondback
“We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today,” the spokesperson said. The company is providing support to impacted guests and staff.
Authorities and Six Flags did not identify the specific roller coaster. Local television stations broadcast video of passengers being evacuated from the Goliath coaster.
The Goliath ride opened in 2006, according to the park website. It reaches speeds of 70 mph and stands 200 feet high.
Riders navigate razor-sharp turns and soar over colossal hills for about 3 1/2 minutes, the park website states.
Next of kin of the deceased person have been notified, Cobb County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said.
“I cannot imagine the horror the patrons and employees witnessed today, and my heart aches for the family who lost a loved one,” Cupid said. “We are all grappling with how something so devastating could happen at a place that has given generations of families such happy memories.”
Cupid said the park represents a major part of tourism for Cobb County. It draws visitors from across the Southeast.
The fatality marks at least the seventh death at the Georgia venue, according to the Doan Law Firm. A man suffered a likely heart attack on the Goliath coaster in 2006, the firm reported.
Six Flags Magic Mountain announced the retirement of the X2 roller coaster less than two weeks ago. That decision followed lawsuits alleging serious brain injuries caused by the ride. The California venue settled a wrongful-death lawsuit involving a 22-year-old man who died after riding X2 in 2022.
A 32-year-old man died last year from blunt impact injuries after riding a high-speed coaster at Universal Epic Universe in Florida. Officials ruled that death accidental.
Major crimes units typically handle sudden death investigations to collect physical evidence and question witnesses. Theme park attractions frequently undergo mechanical reviews and state safety inspections before they reopen to the public in Austell.
