One Dead, Several Injured After Incident on Goliath Coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia

AUSTELL, Ga. — One guest died and several others were injured Monday afternoon in an incident involving the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, according to the Cobb County Police Department.

The Associated Press reported that the incident happened at the park in Austell, about 15 miles northwest of Atlanta, and that detectives with the Cobb County Police Department's major crimes unit will investigate. Officials did not confirm how the guest died or what caused the other guests' injuries, and the park declined to release additional details. The guest's identity has not been released.

Riders evacuated from the lift hill

The Goliath train stopped on an incline during the incident, leaving riders stranded partway up the coaster while crews carried out an evacuation. WSB-TV's NewsChopper 2 captured footage of guests being helped down the stairway attached to the ride's lift hill, escorted off four at a time as the evacuation unfolded Monday afternoon. Officials confirmed to WSB-TV's Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell that one park visitor had died and four others were injured.

The ride remained shut down after the evacuation. Six Flags has not said when Goliath will reopen, and the park has not announced whether it will operate on a normal schedule Tuesday. This is a developing story, and Previously will update it as officials confirm more.

What witnesses described

Guests who were at the park told 11Alive that a man fell from the coaster during the ride. Witness Cody Alcorn told 11Alive the man was visible in his party's on-ride souvenir photo: "He was in our pictures. He fell and hit the car three different times."

Police have not confirmed the witnesses' account. The Associated Press reported that officials did not say how the person died, and Six Flags said it would not share additional details out of respect for the family's privacy. Until investigators release their findings, the exact sequence of events on the ride remains unconfirmed.

The park and local officials respond

In a statement shared with the Associated Press, LADbible and the New York Post, a Six Flags Over Georgia spokesperson said the company is "deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today" and extended condolences to the guest's family, friends and loved ones. The spokesperson said the park is also providing support to the guests and team members affected.

"The park team and local authorities responded immediately, and we are cooperating fully with local authorities as they complete their investigation," the spokesperson said, according to the statement reported by LADbible.

Mableton Mayor Michael Owens released a statement saying the city was "deeply saddened by the tragic incident at Six Flags Over Georgia today" and offering condolences to the individual's family, according to WSB-TV. The mayor said Mableton Public Safety Director Dr. Kerry Stallings is coordinating with Cobb County Police and park security, and that the city would refrain from further comment out of respect for the family and the ongoing investigation.

Guests at other Six Flags parks told Theme Park Tribune that similar Bolliger & Mabillard hypercoasters — including Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America — were closed late Monday afternoon after the death on Goliath, possibly as a precaution. Six Flags has not announced any chain-wide ride closures.

About the Goliath

Goliath is the signature ride at Six Flags Over Georgia — a steel hypercoaster that opened in 2006 and climbs a 200-foot lift hill before reaching a top speed of 70 miles per hour, according to the park's website. The evacuation footage showed the train stopped on that lift hill, with riders led down the emergency stairway built alongside the track.

Fatal incidents on major American roller coasters are rare, and Monday's death arrives at a difficult moment for the Six Flags chain. The Associated Press noted that Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California announced last month that it was retiring its X2 roller coaster amid lawsuits alleging serious brain injuries, and that the company recently settled a wrongful-death lawsuit brought by the family of a 22-year-old man who died after riding that coaster in 2022.

What we don't know yet

Investigators have not said what caused the incident or how the four injured guests were hurt, and their conditions have not been released. The dead guest's name, age and hometown have not been released. Six Flags has not said whether Goliath will be inspected by state regulators before it carries riders again, and the Cobb County Police Department has not given a timeline for its investigation.

What is confirmed is narrow and serious: a guest is dead, four others are hurt, a flagship roller coaster sits closed, and detectives — not just ride inspectors — are working the case. Previously will update this story as the police department and the park release verified information.