One person died and others were injured Monday at Six Flags Over Georgia, officials said, as witnesses reported seeing a man fall from a roller coaster.
The Cobb County Department of Emergency Communications confirmed the death at the amusement park just outside Atlanta, but was unable to immediately provide details.
Cobb County Police Sgt. ED Smith said in a statement that several people were also injured in the incident, reported shortly before 4 p.m., and that the department’s major crimes unit was investigating.
Witnesses who spoke to NBC affiliate WXIA in Atlanta said they saw a man fall from the Goliath roller coaster, and at least two said they saw him hit several parts of the ride multiple times before hitting the ground.
“He fell and hit the car three times,” a witness told the station.
In a statement, a park spokesperson said: “We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred today at our park. Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to the guest’s family, friends and loved ones.
The spokesperson added that the park was supporting affected guests and employees, and details would not be immediately released “out of respect for the family’s privacy.”
Witness Logan Conner said he was traveling with his fiancée when he saw the man get out of his seat on Goliath.
“The man started levitating in the air to the side,” he said. “We made direct eye contact with him.”
A witness told WXIA the man was sitting with a child and his blood ended up in their vehicle.
The video showed riders exiting the roller coaster after a mid-ride break.
Goliath, designed and built by Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers of Switzerland, opened in 2006 and features a drop of more than 200 feet, putting it in the hyper coaster category.
In September, Six Flags was named in several lawsuits after riders claimed they suffered brain injuries on the X2 roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern California. It features 360-degree rotating seats, a 215-foot drop, and sudden flips and spins.
The roller coaster has been closed since July 12, a day after attorney Christopher Bulone said one of the plaintiffs suffered catastrophic brain injuries after a ride. The park said at the time that it does not comment on pending lawsuits.
Six Flags Over Georgia is approximately 10 miles west of downtown Atlanta.
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