Six Flags is one of the biggest amusement park companies in North America. It runs parks in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Millions of people visit its rides every year. Now the company says it will make some of its rollercoasters safer after a deadly accident in Georgia.
Six Flags plans to add seatbelts to the Goliath rollercoaster. It will do the same on other rides that currently use only lap bars. The decision comes after a man died when he was thrown from Goliath earlier this month.
Chief executive John Reilly shared the news in a letter to customers on Friday. He said the company would take more steps to keep guests safe at all its parks.
The company owns 34 parks across North America. Together, they have more than 220 rollercoasters. Six Flags says over 28 million people visit its parks each year.
Goliath, at Six Flags Over Georgia, will stay closed while safety checks take place. Eight other rides at five different parks will also close for now as a precaution. The company has brought in outside engineers and ride inspection experts. They will look closely at how the parks handle safety.
Reilly promised to follow the advice of these experts. He also said the company would keep the public updated on any improvements. He offered his sympathy to the family of the victim, the people who were hurt and everyone affected by the tragedy.
The accident happened on 12 October. Police say 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem was thrown from the ride and died. Four other riders were hurt. Officials are still investigating what went wrong.
Goliath opened in 2006. It stands 200 feet (60 metres) tall. Riders go down a 170-foot drop and through a 540-degree spiral. The ride reaches speeds of up to 70 miles per hour (112 kilometres per hour). Six Flags gives it four out of five for thrill level.
This is not the first deadly incident at a Six Flags park. In 2011, a veteran of the Iraq War died after he fell from a ride in New York. In 2013, a woman slipped out of her restraints on a Texas rollercoaster and died after the fall.
In 2022, a 22-year-old man died from a brain injury after riding X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California. His family later settled a lawsuit over his death. A month later, the park closed X2. More than 100 people had claimed the ride caused them brain injuries.
The latest tragedy has raised fresh worries about safety at amusement parks. As Six Flags reviews its rules and rides, it says more changes may follow to protect its visitors.
