Six Flags Over Georgia Renames Fright Fest Event After Deadly Coaster Fall
Six Flags Over Georgia renamed its "Dr. Fright's Dead Man's Party" Halloween event to "Dr. Fright's Party" out of respect for the family of Hassan Kariem, the 42-year-old teacher who died Monday falling from the park's Goliath roller coaster. The park reopened Friday after a four-day closure.
Six Flags Over Georgia has renamed its annual Halloween event from “Dr. Fright’s Dead Man’s Party” to “Dr. Fright’s Party” after the death of a rider on the park’s Goliath roller coaster this week, the park told USA Today.
The rider, 42-year-old Atlanta-area teacher Hassan Kariem, fell to his death from the Goliath on Monday. The park closed for four days after the death and reopened Friday. The Goliath remains closed.
Park cites respect for the family
The name change was made out of respect for Kariem’s family, the park said. Park president Richard Pretlow said in a statement that Six Flags was “deeply saddened by the recent incident at the park” and that all rides go through daily, weekly, monthly and annual safety checks.
Sister coasters at Six Flags Great America in Illinois, Six Flags Magic Mountain in California, Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, Carowinds in North Carolina, Kings Island in Ohio and Canada’s Wonderland in Ontario have all been shut down in the wake of the fall.
A history of fatal incidents
The fall is at least the eighth death at Six Flags Over Georgia since 1967, and the third tied directly to a coaster, according to USA Today. An 11-year-old child died on the park’s Z-Force coaster in 1989. The Goliath’s manufacturer, Bolliger and Mabillard, did not immediately respond to a request for comment, according to the New York Post.
Reporting based on coverage by the New York Post.
