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Six Flags Adding Seat Belts to Goliath After Fatal Fall

Are seat belts the overdue fix Goliath needs, or does real safety demand inspections oversight and better-trained operators?

2 hours ago·Updated 1 hour ago

Six Flags Adding Seat Belts to Goliath After Fatal Fall

Story

Above: Stock photo of the train of the Goliath roller coaster. Image credit: Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images

The Facts

Six Flags announced Friday that it will install seat belts on the Goliath roller coaster and other rides with similar restraints. President and CEO John Reilly released the announcement less than two weeks after a man fell to his death at the company's Georgia park.
Six Flags
Reilly said that "independent engineers and ride inspection specialists" have been hired to review safety procedures at all Six Flags attractions.
Six Flags
This comes after Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, an Atlanta educator, was ejected from Goliath on Oct. 12 and struck other riders before falling beneath the attraction to his death, Cobb County police said. Four children were hospitalized with injuries that were not life-threatening.
New York Post
ABC News
Goliath, which opened two decades ago, reaches a height of 200 feet (61 meters) and speeds of 70 mph (113 kph) during a ride lasting about three and a half minutes. Riders were secured by clamshell lap bars, while the coaster had no over-the-shoulder harness.
CNN
The Wall Street Journal
Georgia authorities and Cobb County police are investigating. No single federal agency enforces standards for such rides.
The New York Times
Eight other coasters remain closed at five Six Flags parks, including Nitro at Great Adventure, Raging Bull at Great America, Fury 325 at Carowinds and Orion at Kings Island. More than 220 of the company's coasters are still operating.
New York Post
NBC News

Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

Seat belts are the right call, and overdue. Legacy Cedar Fair parks already fitted their B&M hypers with them, while Goliath relied on one lap bar that an on-ride photo suggests failed. There's no reason to favor faster loading over a backup precaution. Goliath should remain closed until Six Flags proves riders are forced to stay seated, but then it should be business as usual.

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Narrative B

Seat belts alone may not fix the problem. The cause is still unknown, and experts say maintenance, design or operator error could be behind it. Sometimes a ride is only as safe as staff following procedure. This means that in addition to seat belts, Six Flags should commit to consistent inspections, better operator certification and independent oversight.

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