Adeadly roller coaster incidentat a Georgia amusement park has prompted Six Flags to temporarily shut down multiple rides across North America, including one of the signature coasters at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia.
The closures come after a man was killed Monday at Six Flags Over Georgia near Atlanta when he was reportedly ejected from the Goliath roller coaster. Authorities are investigating the incident, which also left several other people injured, according to reports from local officials and media outlets.
Six Flags said it closed the rides out of an "abundance of caution" while similar rides undergo review.
Magic Mountain's Goliath among rides temporarily closed
Among the nine roller coasters temporarily shut down is Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain, one of Southern California's best-known
thrill rides.
According to reports from The New York Times, Associated Press, and the Los Angeles Times, the affected rides include:
- Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia
- Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America in Illinois
- Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey
- Leviathan and Behemoth at Canada's Wonderland in Ontario
- Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds in North Carolina
- Orion and Diamondback at Kings Island in Ohio
Six Flags has not announced how long the closures will last.
For California theme-park fans planning visits during fall breaks or Halloween events, the closure means one of Magic Mountain's marquee attractions will be unavailable until further notice.
What happened at Six Flags Over Georgia?
The incident occurred Monday at Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell, a suburb west of Atlanta.
Cobb County officials confirmed one person died and several others were injured. Witnesses told Atlanta television station WXIA that a rider appeared to be ejected from a car on the park's Goliath coaster.
Local reports said the victim struck portions of the ride during the fall. Authorities have not publicly released additional details about the victim or officially confirmed a cause of death as the investigation continues.
Lisa Cupid, chair of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, called the incident a tragedy and said detectives with the county's major crimes unit are investigating.
The Georgia Goliath opened in 2006 and reaches about 70 mph while climbing about 200 feet in the air, according to Six Flags.
Another setback for Magic Mountain after X2 closure
The latest closure adds to a difficult year for Six Flags Magic Mountain.
Just weeks ago, the Valencia parkpermanently retired X2, one of its most famous attractions, after months of scrutiny and litigation involving allegations of serious rider injuries.
The coaster had been closed since July after reports of brain injuries allegedly linked to rides on the attraction. Several lawsuits remain pending, and Six Flags has denied allegations that the ride was responsible for the injuries described in court filings.
Magic Mountain officials said at the time that X2 had passed safety testing but acknowledged that public confidence in the attraction had been affected.
Is Magic Mountain still open?
Yes.
Six Flags Magic Mountain remains open, and the temporary shutdown affects only the Goliath roller coaster. Other rides and attractions continue operating unless the park announces otherwise.
Guests planning to visit should check the park's website or mobile app for the latest ride availability before traveling to Valencia.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Six Flags closes Magic Mountain's Goliath after fatal Georgia incident
