Terrifying safety loophole exposed after man is thrown to his death from roller coaster

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A fatal accident on a Georgia roller coaster, where a rider was thrown from the attraction, has renewed scrutiny around amusement park safety as modern rides push for greater speeds and steeper drops.

Although fatal incidents on roller coasters remain exceptionally rare, authorities in Georgia have disclosed limited information regarding Monday’s tragedy. Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, was ejected from his seat while riding the Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia, hitting other park guests before landing below the ride.

Operating at the venue for two decades, Goliath uses a sheer drop from 200 feet (61 meters) to reach top speeds of 70 mph (112 kph), focusing on velocity and downhill plunges rather than turning riders upside down through loops or corkscrews.

Following the death, Six Flags temporarily closed nine similar coasters across North America, stating it was acting out of an abundance of caution. The ride’s manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard, said it is “actively investigating the incident and will not comment further until we have a better understanding of what happened.”

Across the United States, roller coasters and other attractions at major theme parks such as Six Flags are exempt from federal regulation, leaving oversight entirely up to individual state governments.

Critics contend this has created an inconsistent patchwork of laws, with certain states maintaining rigorous standards while others enforce little to no oversight.

Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts has introduced repeated legislation to close what he describes as a “loophole” in federal statute that allows officials to inspect mobile rides, yet bars the Consumer Product Safety Commission from regulating stationary park attractions.

Brian Avery, a University of Florida professor and amusement ride safety expert, also maintains that stricter national guidelines are required.

“Who’s watching those in these organizations to ensure that they are adequately trained, that they are compliant, that they are monitoring these rides to the level in which the standards have established?” Avery said.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner, which handles annual inspections across the state, is “conducting an in‑depth and comprehensive review” of the incident at Six Flags, spokesperson Garrison Bennett said.

Across the globe, theme park operators adhere to ASTM guidelines set by industry specialists. These standards dictate everything from ride design and construction to the maximum acceleration and forces a passenger may experience.

The sector relies on multiple layers of inspection, according to Dennis Speigel, a theme park consultant and past president of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. Operators face constant pressure from insurance carriers that could face major financial payouts if accidents occur.

“With the checks and balances that are put in place, theme parks are really one of the safest places to be on the planet,” he said in a phone interview Tuesday.

According to the trade organization, the odds of sustaining a severe injury on a U.S. amusement park ride are 1 in 15.5 million.

Martin Lewinson, a roller coaster expert and professor at Farmingdale State College, said a mechanical failure on a coaster like Goliath is hard to imagine due to its engineering.

The attraction uses a pull-down lap restraint called a “clamshell,” which operates via a ratchet device that clicks down over a rider’s hips. The mechanism features redundant disks to ensure safety if one component fails, Lewinson noted.

“They’re dependable. They’re not so technically advanced that theme parks have difficulty with operations,” Lewinson said.

Ride operator control systems also display a green signal for every seat prior to dispatching the train. Theoretically, the train cannot move unless every restraint is fully locked, Lewinson said.

Still, complete safety is never entirely guaranteed.

In 2022, a 14-year-old Missouri boy fell to his death from an Orlando attraction when his harness failed to lock properly due to his physical size.

In 2013, a 52-year-old Dallas woman died after slipping from her seat on the Texas Giant at Six Flags Over Texas. Six Flags subsequently added updated restraint padding, seat belts, and sample entrance seats so visitors can check their fit beforehand.

Nick Mendenhall, who has ridden Goliath more than 12 times in recent weeks, said staff verified restraints on every turn.

“There are two employees, one on either side of the train, and with their hands they push down and they make sure it locks every time. I’ve never seen them not do it,” Mendenhall said.

In California, the Department of Industrial Relations must approve new or modified rides. According to the agency’s website, officials monitor safety either through annual direct inspections of equipment and operations, or by relying on yearly reports submitted by owners.

Florida takes a different approach by exempting its largest theme parks, including Walt Disney World and Universal, from state safety inspections, though smaller carnivals and venues remain subject to oversight.

These major operators manage their own safety protocols, but they must report any injury or death to the state. Texas similarly relies on private inspectors hired by park operators or their insurers.

In Arizona, home to Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Phoenix, no state agency regulates rides or performs safety checks. State law instead mandates an annual private inspection, with local governments largely tasked with enforcement.

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