Man Dies After Falling From Goliath Roller Coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, Nine Rides Closed Nationwide
A man died on Monday after falling from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, a large theme park near Atlanta. The park confirmed the death on Monday afternoon. Police said several other people were also hurt, but did not give details of their injuries.
The accident happened just before 4 p.m. local time on Monday, October 12, 2026, according to the Cobb County Police Department. The park sits in Austell, Georgia, about 15 miles west of downtown Atlanta. It was open on Monday because of the Columbus Day holiday, a day when many local schools are on fall break.
What happened on the Goliath
Goliath is one of the park’s biggest rides. It opened in 2006 and stands 200 feet tall, making it Georgia’s tallest roller coaster. The ride reaches speeds of up to 70 miles per hour, has a 170-foot first drop and a 540-degree spiral, and pushes riders with forces of up to 4 Gs. Riders are held in with lap-bar restraints.
Witnesses told local TV stations they saw a man fall from the ride. One witness, Cody Alcorn, told Atlanta station 11Alive that the man appeared in his family’s souvenir photo as he fell. “He was in our pictures,” he said. “He fell and hit the car three different times.” Local reports said the man fell onto the roof of a haunted house attraction below the ride.
Police have not said exactly how the man fell or what caused it. They have not released his name or age.
Riders evacuated from the track
After the fall, the coaster stopped moving. Fifteen to twenty riders on another train were left stuck partway up the lift hill. Park staff helped them get down, a few people at a time, using a stairway that runs beside the track. News helicopters filmed the slow evacuation from the air.
Videos shared online showed the stopped ride and crews working high above the ground. One witness said she saw “somebody fly out and just fly into the woods” from about 150 feet away.
Park and police respond
In a statement, Six Flags Over Georgia said: “We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the guest’s family, friends, and loved ones.” The park added that it is giving support to guests and staff affected by the incident and is working fully with the police as they investigate.
Detectives from the Cobb County Police Major Crimes Unit are looking into what happened. Out of respect for the family, the park said it would not share more details right now.
Nine rides closed across the country
On Monday evening, Six Flags said it had temporarily closed nine roller coasters across six of its other parks. The company said the step was taken “out of an abundance of caution.”
This is not the first time the company has faced safety questions. About two weeks ago, Six Flags Magic Mountain in California said it would permanently close its famous X2 roller coaster. That move followed a CNN investigation that found reports of serious injuries and deaths linked to the ride. Six Flags also settled a wrongful-death lawsuit from the family of a 22-year-old man who died after riding X2 in 2022.
Goliath itself has a long record. It was built by the Swiss company Bolliger & Mabillard, which has also built well-known coasters such as Fury 325 at Carowinds and Raptor at Cedar Point. An accident-law firm that tracks theme park incidents says Monday’s death was at least the seventh at the Georgia park.
What comes next
For now, the focus is on the police investigation. Detectives are trying to find out how a rider could fall from a train moving at high speed with restraints in place. The park has not said when the Goliath or the other closed rides will reopen.
The death has also brought theme park safety back into the public debate. Amusement parks in the United States attract millions of visitors each year, and major accidents are rare but grab wide attention when they happen. Investigators say it will take time before the full picture of Monday’s tragedy is clear.