One person dies after rollercoaster incident at Six Flags Over Georgia, sending shares plunging

One person is dead and several others were injured after an incident on the Goliath rollercoaster at Six Flags Over Georgia in Cobb County, near Atlanta. The Cobb County Police Department said it was investigating the fatality at the park, which is located about 15 miles from the city.

The incident occurred shortly before 4 p.m. Monday at the amusement park in Cobb County. Witnesses reported seeing a man fall from the rollercoaster, though their accounts of what followed differ in significant ways and have not been independently verified. Police did not provide additional details. Officials have not said how the person was killed or what led to the fall, leaving witnesses as the primary source of information about what transpired on the ride.

Local outlet 11Alive quoted a witness saying the man fell from the rollercoaster onto the roof of a haunted house attraction. Separately, witnesses told a local news station they saw a man fall from the roller coaster and strike the ride several times before coming to rest. The accounts have not been reconciled. Officials have not confirmed either version. Riders were evacuated after the ride stopped, but reports conflict on where the coaster came to a halt. Aerial footage from news helicopters showed the Goliath stopped midway, with workers helping riders off the structure. Another report placed the stoppage near the top of the ride, leaving the exact location of the evacuation unclear.

Company response and park closures

Six Flags Over Georgia said it was “deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the guest’s family, friends, and loved ones.” The company said its park staff and local authorities responded immediately to the incident and that it was cooperating fully with the investigation. Six Flags said it had temporarily closed similar attractions across its parks and would not release further details out of respect for the family’s privacy. Mableton Mayor Michael Owens said the city’s public safety director was coordinating with local police and park security on the situation.

The Goliath rollercoaster

The Goliath ride opened in 2006. It stands 200 feet tall and features a 170-foot plunge, a 540-degree spiral, and a top speed of 70mph (112km/h), according to the park’s website. On its thrill scale, Six Flags ranks Goliath at level four out of five, placing it among the more intense attractions at the park.

Shares plunge amid broader safety scrutiny

Shares of Six Flags Entertainment plunged more than 10% in after-hours trading Monday following reports of the incident, a sharp reversal from the regular session. The stock had closed 4.5% higher during regular trading before the after-hours sell-off erased those gains. The company’s shares have fallen 22% year to date. The incident comes just weeks after a Six Flags park in southern California announced it would close the popular X2 roller coaster after more than 100 people alleged brain injuries from the ride. Six Flags said the X2 had passed a range of safety tests but that it had decided to retire the ride because it was “the right thing to do.” Six Flags is the largest amusement park operator in North America, with 20 amusement parks, 14 water parks, and nine resorts across Canada, the US, and Mexico.