Six Flags Closes Nine Rides 'Out of an Abundance of Caution' After Fatal Georgia Roller Coaster Incident

Six Flags has temporarily shut nine roller coasters across North America after one person died and four others were injured in an incident at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday, 12 October, according to local reports.

Cobb County Police said an incident involving a roller coaster occurred at Six Flags Over Georgia at approximately 3.58pm on Monday, 12 October. Officers assigned to the park and uniformed patrol officers responded, and detectives from the department's Major Crimes Unit are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Authorities have not publicly identified the deceased person or established the cause of the incident. It wasreported that officials confirmed four other people were injured, while the police statement referred to 'several people' being reported injured.

Police and Six Flags did not officially identify the ride involved in their initial statements. However, local television footage showed passengers being evacuated from Goliath, and witnesses told broadcasters they saw a man fall from the coaster. Those accounts have not been confirmed by police or the park.

WSB-TV reported that the ride had stopped with a set of cars near the top of the track. Cobb County Courier reported that passengers were evacuated four at a time.

Six Flags' Initial Response

A Six Flags Entertainment Corporation spokesperson said the park team and local authorities responded immediately. The company said it was cooperating fully with investigators as their work continued.

'We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today,' the spokesperson said. 'Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the guest's family, friends, and loved ones.'

The statement continued: 'We are also providing support to the guests and team members affected.' Six Flags said it would not release further details 'out of respect for the family's privacy.'

Why Nine Rides Were Closed

The closures affect nine roller coasters at six other Six Flags-owned parks. They are Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America in Illinois, Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California and Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey.

Canada's Wonderland in Ontario closed Leviathan and Behemoth. Carowinds in North Carolina shut Fury 325 and Thunder Striker, while Kings Island in Ohio closed Orion and Diamondback.

'Out of an abundance of caution, we have temporarily closed similar attractions across our parks,' Six Flags said. 'The safety of our guests and team members remains one of our highest priorities.'

The company did not say when the rides would reopen. It also did not explain precisely why it considered those nine coasters similar to the Georgia attraction.

Key Details Still Unclear

Police have not said how the man died, how the four other people were injured, or what conditions they were in afterwards. Authorities have not publicly identified the deceased person or established the cause of the incident.

Witnesses' descriptions of a fall from Goliath remain witness accounts rather than official findings. Detectives from Cobb County Police's Major Crimes Unit are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

According to the park's website, Goliath reaches a height of 200 feet and speeds of up to 70 mph. Six Flags Over Georgia is in Austell, west of Atlanta.

Ride Manufacturer Examines Incident

The manufacturer of Goliath, Bolliger & Mabillard, said it was investigating the incident. In a statement reported by CNN, the company described the event as 'tragic' and said its thoughts were with the family and all those affected.

'We are actively probing the situation,' the company said, adding that it would not comment further 'until we have a clearer understanding of the events that occurred.'

One person has died, others were injured, and authorities are investigating the circumstances. Six Flags has temporarily closed nine attractions as a precaution. The cause of the incident and the reasons for selecting those particular rides remain unclear.