By Nora Shupe

“It makes me nervous because I was just at Kings Island a few days before this happened and I rode Orion and Diamondback which are now under investigation,” junior Parker Poole said.

In Mableton, Georgia, on Monday, October 12, a fatal incident struck at Six Flags. A 42 year old man was ejected from a roller coaster called the “Goliath.” His safety harness came loose and he flew off the ride and hit several people and other carts before landing on a building. Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem was a father, an uncle and a two-time cancer survivor prior to his death.

The Six flags president Richard Pretlow released a statement after the incident: “We are deeply saddened by the recent incident at the park. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences remain with the individual involved, their family, friends and loved ones. We also continue to keep the guests and team members affected by this tragic event in our thoughts.”

Six Flags Corporations operates a total of 34 North American properties which includes 20 amusement parks and 14 water parks across the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Following the incident they temporarily closed nine different rides across Six flags parks that were similar to the Goliath, including two rides at Kings Island here in Ohio.

Sophomore Anabelle Cyphers went to Kings Island recently and heard some safety concerns coming from other guests. “I wasn’t scared to ride any rides but people around me were talking about how they were nervous,” Cyphers said. “When I got there, two different rides were closed that had similar seatbelts and safety features to the Goliath.”