Six Flags closes nine rides after a fatal Goliath incident in Georgia

Six Flags has temporarily closed nine rides at its parks across the country after a man died in an incident on the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday. Police have not said what caused it.

Fatal incident on Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia

One person died and several others were reported injured in an incident involving a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia at approximately 3:58 p.m. on Monday, the Cobb County Police Department said in a statement published by WSB-TV. Officers assigned to the park and uniformed patrol officers responded, and detectives with the department's Major Crimes Unit are investigating the circumstances, police said.

Theme Park Insider reported that ride operators stopped the coaster and evacuated riders from other trains after the incident. Witnesses interviewed by FOX 5 Atlanta said they saw a rider fall from the moving coaster into a wooded area below. Police have not publicly stated a cause, and Six Flags has not released a mechanical finding.

Six Flags Over Georgia said in a statement that it was "deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today," that it was providing support to the guests and team members affected, and that it was "cooperating fully with local authorities as they complete their investigation." The park said it would not share additional details out of respect for the family's privacy.

What officials have said

Cobb County Commission Chair Lisa Cupid said in a statement that one person had died and others were injured.

Georgia's Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner is responsible for inspecting rides in the state. Commissioner John F. King told FOX 5 Atlanta that "safety inspectors and investigators are on the ground examining the equipment and working with park officials and public safety officials in Cobb County."

Nine rides closed across Six Flags parks

Six Flags said it has temporarily closed nine rides across the country after the Georgia incident, CNN reported on Tuesday. FOX 5 Atlanta, reporting on the closures, quoted Six Flags officials: "Out of an abundance of caution, we have temporarily closed similar attractions across our parks. The safety of our guests and team members remains one of our highest priorities."

The company statements cited here do not list all nine rides or say how long they will stay closed.