Georgia Injury Law Blog
Tragedy occurred at Six Flags over Georgia on October 12, when one patron died and several others were injured after a man was ejected from a roller coaster. Cobb County police identified the man as 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, who was riding Six Flags’ Goliath coaster when he was ejected over the top of the hill near the end of the ride, striking other patrons during his fall. CBS reported that one witness, Connor Thompson, was standing in line for the Goliath ride, and said it looked as if the restraint on the seat was unlatched. This same ride was the site of another death in 2006, in which a man had a heart attack on the coaster.
Given the possibility for severe injuries and even fatalities, it is surprising that there is no federal oversight of amusement park rides. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission investigates accidents from machinery, but ever since 1981, Congress ruled that amusement and water parks are exempted from this regulation as long as the rides are “permanently fixed to a site,” such as rides at Six Flags theme parks. The amusement park industry is represented by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, or IAAPA, which spends about $600,000 annually to lobby against federal regulations. These efforts have been successful: legislation has been proposed to restore this oversight since 2001, but as of 2026 nothing has changed. IAAPA conducts their own safety survey, but completing the survey is optional, with only 177 of 436 invited parks participating in 2019.
This lack of oversight results in injured patrons seeking redress through individual lawsuits, rather than broad changes occurring in the industry. For example, another Six Flags location, Magic Mountain in California, has been the site of more than 100 brain injuries after patrons rode the X2 coaster. According to CNN’s analysis of medical records and court filings, patrons have suffered from brain injuries connected to this ride for two decades, resulting in at least two deaths.
Other patrons suffered debilitating disabilities, such as Michael Wilk. Wilk suffered traumatic brain injury while riding X2 in February of 2026. According to the lawsuit filed by Dordick Law Corp, during the ride “his head began slamming violently against the headrest of his seat.” Weeks later a brain MRI showed intracranial bleeding, swelling, and shift of the brain. His condition required three surgeries, and he is still suffering from memory loss and personality changes.
Even after this incident, Six Flags continued to allow riders to use the X2 coaster. The ride is alleged to have resulted in another brain injury for patron Pamela Guillen on July 5, 2026. After the ride she collapsed and was taken to the hospital, and scans revealed massive intracranial hemorrhage. She had multiple brain surgeries and has also filed a lawsuit against Six Flags.
According to a 2016 study of amusement park injuries, the most frequent personal injuries from roller coasters affect the head and neck, typically caused by falling in, on, off, or against the ride. However, studies also indicate that neurological injuries can occur even without direct impact. Such personal injuries are more frequent when patrons have pre-existing conditions such as connective tissue disorders, or for those with a history of whiplash injury. Given the potential for death or life-altering, disabling injury, patrons and their families are encouraged to research amusement parks and consider forgoing rides with a history of fatal injuries.
The Atlanta personal injury lawyers at Katz Personal Injury Lawyers are dedicated to the representation of people who have suffered injuries due to amusement park ride accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across the state of Georgia. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries as a result of ride malfunction or from the violent nature of a ride, talk to a lawyer at our firm, and discuss your legal options for a claim for damages. You may qualify for compensation that includes medical expenses, lost income and other forms of damages. Please click here to contact our law firm and discuss your case. Initial consultations are free.