The man who fell to his death from a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia has been identified as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, who survived cancer and a serious battle with COVID-19. Just weeks before his death, he and his daughter also survived a car fire.
Kariem died Monday after falling from the Goliath roller coaster at the theme park in Cobb County, Georgia. Police said the incident happened shortly before 4 p.m. and that he struck other riders before landing beneath the ride. Four other people were injured and taken to the hospital.
Known as “Mr. Kariem,” he spent more than 12 years at Wesley International Academy, where he served as IT manager, technology teacher and robotics coach according to reporter Cody Alcorn.
A family friend told WSB-TV that Kariem had overcome several serious challenges in his life, including cancer and COVID-19. She also recalled that he and his daughter survived a car fire just weeks before his death.
Kariem’s former classmate JayJay Brown paid tribute to him in a Facebook post, recalling that they had known each other since their freshman year of high school in 1997.
Brown described Kariem as a smart and kind man who was a devoted husband, father and teacher. He said he would have wanted Kariem to teach his own children, adding that he struggled to believe his former classmate had died in such circumstances.
Goliath opened in 2006 and is the tallest roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. The ride reaches a height of 200 feet and speeds of up to 70 mph, with steep drops, sharp turns and a 540-degree spiral, according to the park’s website. Riders are secured by lap bars rather than seat belts.
Following Kariem’s death, Six Flags temporarily closed nine similar roller coasters across six parks in the U.S. and Canada as a precaution while the investigation continued.
The Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire is investigating the incident. The agency said investigators are conducting a comprehensive review to determine what happened and whether applicable safety requirements were followed.
Wesley International Academy also paid tribute to Kariem, describing him as a beloved member of its community whose work touched generations of students.