A roller coaster incident in Georgia that left a rider dead has prompted theme park operators across North America to temporarily close a dozen rides made by the same manufacturer or sharing similar designs as safety reviews and investigations continue.
The closures followed the death of Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, who was ejected from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia near Atlanta on Oct. 12, according to the Cobb County Police Department. Authorities said Kariem died after falling from the ride, while several other people were injured in the incident.
Six Flags initially announced the temporary closure of nine similar roller coasters at six parks across the United States and Canada, saying the move was made "out of an abundance
of caution" following the incident. Six Flags Over Georgia said the park will resume normal operations on Oct. 16, but the Goliath coaster will remain closed as authorities continue investigating the incident.
"We were deeply saddened by the guest incident at one of our parks," Six Flags said in a statement on Oct. 13 announcing the closures. "Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the guest's family, friends, and loved ones."
Since then, two additional rides have been taken out of operation by other parks, bringing the total number of shuttered rides to 12. SeaWorld Orlando in Florida temporarily closed its Mako coaster, while La Ronde theme park in Canada shut down its Goliath roller coaster pending a safety review.
Ride closures for similar roller coasters expand across North America
Six Flags previously confirmed to USA TODAY that in addition to the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, the following similar rides remain temporarily closed:
- Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America in Lake County, Illinois
- Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California
- Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey
- Leviathan and Behemoth at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario
- Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina
- Orion and Diamondback at Kings Island in Warren County, Ohio
Six Flags has not announced when the rides are expected to reopen.
In a statement to the USA TODAY Network - Florida, SeaWorld Orlando confirmed it temporarily shut down the Mako coaster, which was built by the same manufacturer as the Georgia ride, out of an "abundance of caution."
"Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those involved in the tragic incident at Six Flags over Georgia," the company said.
Carole Bricault, a spokesperson for La Ronde, told The Montreal Gazette that the park's Goliath roller coaster was closed as a "precautionary measure" and will remain shut down until the park has "certainty that it can be operated safely." La Ronde is an amusement park located in Montreal.
USA TODAY reached out to La Ronde for comment.
Witnesses describe fatal fall at Six Flags Over Georgia
Police said preliminary interviews with witnesses and park employees indicated that Kariem was ejected from the ride, struck other patrons and then fell beneath the attraction. Witnesses told local television stations that the man struck parts of the ride several times during the fall before landing below.
Brittany Landry, of Winder, Georgia, told FOX 5 Atlanta that she was waiting in line for the coaster when she saw what happened.
"I just see somebody fly out and just fly into the woods," she told the television station, noting that the woods were blocked off.
Later realizing she had witnessed a person being thrown from the ride, she became emotional while speaking with the television station.
"You go to ride (a) roller coaster to get the adrenaline rush, but you always expect to get back," Landry told FOX 5 Atlanta. "You don't expect to not come home."
Investigation into roller coaster incident continues
Goliath, which opened in 2006, is one of the premier roller coasters at Six Flags Over Georgia. The "hypercoaster" reaches a top speed of 70 mph and a maximum elevation of 200 feet, according to the park.
Swiss company Bolliger & Mabillard, which manufactured the ride along with the other coasters that Six Flags temporarily closed, previously told USA TODAY it is reviewing the incident and "will not comment further until we have a better understanding of what happened."
Six Flags Over Georgia President Richard Pretlow has said the park is cooperating fully with investigators.
"We were deeply saddened by the recent incident at the park," Pretlow said in a statement. "I also want to acknowledge the guests and team members affected by this tragic event and assure them they remain in our thoughts."
Contributing: Michael Loria, Greta Cross and Saleen Martin, USA TODAY; Samantha Neely, USA TODAY Network - Florida
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Theme parks close 12 coasters after deadly Georgia ride incident
