A trip to Atlanta’s Six Flags Over Georgia turned into horror Monday when a rider fell from the towering Goliath roller coaster and died.
According to local reports, four additional people were injured during the incident at the park in Austell. Emergency crews worked high above the ground to evacuate riders stranded on the stopped coaster.
WSB-TV Channel 2 Atlanta confirmed one visitor died and four others were injured shortly before 4 p.m. NewsChopper 2 footage showed riders being removed from Goliath four at a time, descending a narrow emergency staircase along the ride’s elevated track.
Cobb County Police coordinated with city authorities during the response, though officials did not disclose the deceased individual’s identity by Monday evening. Investigators have not yet determined how the fall occurred, despite witness accounts of the man falling from the ride.
Six Flags Over Georgia described Goliath as a hypercoaster reaching 200 feet in height and speeds up to 70 miles per hour. The ride features a 170-foot drop, another plunge of 175 feet, and a 540-degree spiral with forces reaching 4 Gs. Built by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard in 2006, it requires a minimum rider height of 54 inches.
Emergency personnel faced significant challenges rescuing passengers after the train stopped mid-ride, as the standard exit route was no longer feasible. Guests were seen carefully descending the exposed evacuation path while responders worked under the coaster’s immense structure.
Six Flags stated its park team and local authorities responded immediately and that the company is cooperating fully with ongoing investigations. The park offered condolences to the family of the deceased guest and affected individuals, while respecting the privacy of the family by declining further details. Officials have not yet announced when Goliath will reopen.
