Four other people were injured as authorities investigated the incident involving the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia.
AUSTELL, GA — A man died and four other people were injured Monday after an incident involving a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, where witnesses reported seeing the man fall from the Goliath coaster as emergency crews rushed to the amusement park.
Cobb County police said the incident occurred shortly before 4 p.m. Oct. 12 at the park northwest of Atlanta. Detectives with the department’s Major Crimes Unit were investigating the circumstances. Authorities had not publicly identified the person who died or confirmed exactly how he fell as of Tuesday morning, and details about the conditions of those who were injured remained limited.
Local television stations reported that witnesses saw a man fall from Goliath during the ride. Officials confirmed one death and multiple injuries, while WSB-TV reported that four other people were hurt. Video from the park showed riders being evacuated after the coaster stopped, with emergency vehicles and first responders gathered nearby.
Six Flags said it was cooperating with local authorities and providing support to guests and employees affected by the incident. The company said it was “deeply saddened by the guest incident” and offered condolences to the person’s family, friends and loved ones. Six Flags said it would not release additional details about the victim out of respect for the family’s privacy.
The company also temporarily closed nine roller coasters across six Six Flags amusement parks following the Georgia incident. A company spokesperson said attractions similar to the coaster involved in the incident were closed out of an abundance of caution. Six Flags did not immediately say how long the temporary closures would remain in effect.
Goliath opened at Six Flags Over Georgia in 2006. The steel hypercoaster reaches a height of about 200 feet and speeds of up to 70 mph, according to park information. Local news video showed passengers being removed from the Goliath after the incident, though authorities initially stopped short of officially identifying the ride as part of their investigation.
Some riders said they remained stranded high above the ground after the coaster stopped. One passenger told WSB-TV that riders waited more than an hour before they were taken off the attraction. Emergency crews, including paramedics and fire personnel, responded while other visitors watched the evacuation from elsewhere in the park.
Cobb County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said the victim’s next of kin had been notified. She described the death as devastating for the victim’s family as well as park visitors and employees who witnessed the emergency. Six Flags Over Georgia has operated in Cobb County for decades and draws visitors from across the Southeast.
The cause of the incident remained under investigation Tuesday. Police had not announced whether investigators had identified a mechanical problem, restraint failure or another factor, and authorities had not released findings establishing what caused the man to leave the ride. Six Flags said it would continue cooperating with investigators while the precautionary ride closures remained in place.
Author note: Last updated October 13, 2026.