Six Flags announced Friday it would add seat belts to the roller coaster from which a man was ejected and died earlier this month.
In a press release, the theme park announced it was adding seat belts to the Goliaths at Six Flags Over Georgia near Atlanta as part of new, broader safety measures. Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, was thrown from the ride and died on October 12.
“I know that trust is earned through actions, not words. As CEO of Six Flags, I take that responsibility personally,” John Reilly, chairman and CEO of Six Flags, said in a statement. “We will continue to communicate our progress and hold ourselves accountable to our commitments to you. »
Goliath remains closed, along with several other rides at five other parks “out of an abundance of caution.”
Six Flags did not immediately respond to a request for comment on which roller coasters remain closed or when they might reopen.
A company spokesperson previously said the following rides were closed shortly after the incident: Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America; Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain; Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure; Leviathan and Behemoth in Canada’s Wonderland; Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds; and Orion and Diamondback at Kings Island.
As of Friday, more than 220 of the company’s roller coasters remained in service, according to Six Flags.
The company has “hired independent engineers and ride inspection specialists to comprehensively review current safety procedures across our entire portfolio of rides and attractions, across all of our parks,” according to the press release.
Kariem worked at Wesley International Academy in the Atlanta Public Schools district, the district said. His body hit other people during the ride before landing on the roof of a haunted house below, according to witnesses.
The October incident wasn’t the first time Six Flags’ roller coasters made headlines.
In September, Six Flags was sued by riders claiming they suffered brain injuries on the X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California. The ride features 360-degree rotating seats, a 215-foot drop, and sudden flips and spins.
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