Six Flags Magic Mountain has conducted a review of Goliath and reopened the ride after a rider died when he was thrown from a similar roller coaster with the same name at Six Flags Over Georgia near Atlanta.
The Goliath coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain reopened on Thursday, Oct. 15 after a two-day inspection following a fatal accident on the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday, Oct. 12.
“Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain was temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution and respect for those affected,” according to a Six Flags spokesperson. “Following a review, the attraction has reopened.”
ALSO SEE: Six Flags closes 10 coasters after Georgia fatality
Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, of Atlanta, was killed when he was thrown from his seat and struck other riders on the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia.
“Our hearts remain with those affected by the tragic incident at Six Flags Over Georgia,” according to a Six Flags spokesperson. “The safety of our guests and team members remains our highest priority. We continue to maintain rigorous inspection, maintenance and operational procedures that meet or exceed industry standards.”
The two Goliath coasters at the Six Flags parks in Georgia and Southern California are similar but not identical.
“While the rides share the same name and are both classified as hyper coasters, they are separate attractions by different manufacturers,” according to a Six Flags spokesperson.
Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia is a popular Hyper coaster by Switzerland ridemaker Bolliger & Mabillard, which can be found at many Six Flags parks.
The 200-foot-tall Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia reaches a top speed of 70 mph over a 4,500-foot-long track with zero inversions, according to Roller Coaster Database.
Goliath at Magic Mountain is a rare Mega coaster by Switzerland ridemaker Giovanola, which only made three coasters between 1999 and 2001, according to RCDB.
The 235-foot-tall Goliath coaster at Magic Mountain reaches a top speed of 85 mph over a 4,500-foot-long track with zero inversions, according to RCDB.
Both Goliath coasters feature a drop greater than 200 feet — the common distinction for both B&M Hyper coasters or Giovanola Mega coasters.
Six Flags has temporarily closed nine B&M Hyper coasters in the United States and Canada in the wake of the Georgia accident.
The closed coasters include:
- Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia
- Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America (Illinois)
- Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure (New Jersey)
- Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds (North Carolina)
- Leviathan and Behemoth at Canada’s Wonderland (Ontario, Canada)
- Orion and Diamondback at Kings Island (Ohio)
Reviews are underway on the nine coasters that remain closed with no reopening timeline, according to Six Flags officials.
Florida’s SeaWorld Orlando (Mako), Virginia’s Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Apollo’s Chariot), Pennsylvania’s Hersheypark (Candymonium) and Montreal’s La Ronde (Goliath) have all temporarily closed their Bolliger & Mabillard Hyper coasters while the parks work with the ride manufacturer and industry experts on the rides.
The death on the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia comes less than two weeks after Magic Mountain permanently retired X2 following lawsuits alleging riders died and suffered severe brain injuries on the fourth-dimension roller coaster.