Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem Survived Cancer Twice, COVID-19 and a Car Fire Before Fatal Fall at Six Flags Over Georgia

Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem survived cancer twice and a recent car fire before his fatal rollercoaster fall at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday, his family told 11Alive.

Police identified the 42-year-old Atlanta resident on Tuesday morning. Kariem was a father and an educator at Wesley International Academy, where colleagues remembered more than 12 years of service as relatives described his commitment to bringing families back together.

Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem Escaped a Recent Car Fire

Relatives reported that Kariem's most recent bout of cancer was in 2018. Three weeks before his death, he and his 10-year-old daughter survived a car fire, with neither suffering injuries. A family friend also told WSB-TV that Kariem had survived a difficult bout of COVID-19.

The family's account, shared with reporter Chase Houle, described a man who loved Atlanta and was invested in its families. His work at Wesley spanned technology teaching, IT management and robotics coaching, according to the school's statement.

Atlanta Public Schools confirmed his employment at the academy. The district explained that he began as a technology teacher before being promoted to IT manager.

School Tributes Honour Kariem

'The Wesley International Academy community is devastated by the loss of Hassan Kariem, affectionately known as Mr. Kariem, who was a beloved colleague, friend, and integral part of the Wesley family for more than 12 years,' the academy stated in its tribute to Kariem.

'His love for Wesley, dedication to our students, and commitment to our school community were evident in everything he did.'

The academy credited Kariem with a lasting impact on generations of students and colleagues. Its tribute also addressed the loss felt by the wider school community.

'Mr. Kariem was deeply loved and respected, and his absence will be felt throughout our school community.'

The school extended its sympathies to his family, friends, colleagues and students, and requested that the community respect his family's privacy while they mourned.

In a separate statement, Atlanta Public Schools extended condolences to Kariem's family, friends and loved ones.

'He was a cherished member of the Wesley International Academy and APS families whose presence and impact will be deeply missed by our students, staff, and all those whose lives he touched.'

How Kariem Fell Remains Unclear

Cobb County Police Department's major crimes unit is investigating his death, alongside the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire, the state agency responsible for overseeing amusement parks.

Witness accounts placed Kariem on the Goliath rollercoaster on Monday afternoon. According to those accounts, he struck the car and other riders before landing on the roof of a haunted house attraction below.

'He was in our pictures,' a rider told WXIA reporter Cody Alcorn, referring to the section near a souvenir photo camera. 'He fell and hit the car three different times.'

The Guardian reported that neither authorities nor Six Flags had identified the ride, although footage depicted passengers being evacuated from Goliath. The cause of the fall remained unknown, with no established finding of mechanical failure or operator error.

Following Kariem's death, Six Flags temporarily closed nine rollercoasters across six amusement parks in the US and Canada.