Daijiworld Media Network - Atlanta
Atlanta, Oct 13: One person died and several others were injured in an incident at Six Flags Over Georgia amusement park on Monday after a man reportedly fell from a roller coaster, officials said.
The Cobb County Department of Emergency Communications confirmed the death but did not provide further details about the incident, which occurred around 4 pm at the amusement park located about 10 miles west of downtown Atlanta.
The Cobb County Police Department's Major Crimes Unit is investigating the incident.
Witnesses told NBC affiliate WXIA-TV that they saw a man fall from the Goliath roller coaster. At least two witnesses reportedly said the man struck parts of the ride several times before hitting the ground.
“He fell and hit the car three different times,” one witness told the television station.
Logan Conner, who was riding the attraction with his fiancée, said he saw the man come out of his seat while the roller coaster was in motion.
“The man started levitating in the air sideways,” Conner said, adding that they made direct eye contact.
Another witness told WXIA-TV that the man had been seated with a child. However, officials have not released further information about the victim or the circumstances surrounding the fall.
A video showed riders getting off the roller coaster after it stopped midway through the ride.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Six Flags Over Georgia said the park was deeply saddened by the incident and extended condolences to the victim's family and loved ones.
The spokesperson added that the park was providing support to guests and employees affected by the incident. Further details would not be released immediately out of respect for the family's privacy.
Goliath, designed and built by Swiss engineering firm Bolliger & Mabillard, opened in 2006. The hypercoaster features a drop of more than 200 feet.
The incident comes amid separate legal action involving another Six Flags attraction. In September, the amusement park company was named in multiple lawsuits after riders alleged that they had suffered brain injuries on the X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California.
The X2 ride, which features rotating seats, a 215-foot drop and multiple flips and rotations, has been closed since July 12. The closure followed an incident in which an attorney representing a plaintiff said a rider had suffered a catastrophic brain injury. The park had declined to comment on the pending lawsuits.