The death of a rider who fell from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday has families across the country asking who checks the rides their children board. In Maryland, that job belongs to a small state inspection unit in Hunt Valley, and the rules here differ in important ways from Georgia’s and from federal law.
Here is what is known about the Georgia investigation, how Maryland inspects amusement rides, and what riders and parents in the state can do before strapping in.
What happened on Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia?
A man died Monday afternoon, Oct. 12, after falling from a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell, about 15 miles northwest of Atlanta, the Associated Press reported. Local TV showed passengers being evacuated from Goliath, a hypercoaster that opened in 2006, climbs 200 feet and reaches 70 mph, according to the park’s website as cited by AP.
CBS Atlanta identified the man as Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, an IT manager at Wesley International Academy, an Atlanta charter school. Several other people were hurt. Authorities have not said how he left his seat, and the cause has not been determined.
Cobb County police and the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire are investigating. WSB-TV reported that investigators are examining possibilities including mechanical malfunction, restraint failure and operator error, and that Goliath’s inspection reports are not available online.
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. temporarily closed nine roller coasters at six parks “out of an abundance of caution,” AP reported. The company has not publicly listed them.
“We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today.”
Six Flags Over Georgia spokesperson, via The Associated Press
Is there a Six Flags park in Maryland anymore?
No. Six Flags America in Bowie, which opened in 1974 as Wild World, closed after its final day of operation in early November 2025, and the company said the roughly 500-acre Prince George’s County property would be sold for redevelopment, WJZ reported. None of the coasters Six Flags paused this week is in Maryland.
Marylanders still ride plenty of coasters, though: at boardwalk and family parks, at county fairs and the Maryland State Fair, and at out-of-state parks a short drive away. Those in-state rides fall under Maryland’s inspection program.
Who inspects amusement rides in Maryland?
The Amusement Attraction Safety Inspection unit of the Maryland Department of Labor’s Division of Labor and Industry. The program dates to 1976 and operates under Title 3 of the state’s Business Regulation Article.
Under state law, an owner may not operate a ride or attraction unless it has been registered, inspected and issued a certificate of inspection by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry. The unit covers mechanical rides, go-kart tracks, water slides, ski lifts and even escape rooms. Maryland charges no fee for registration or inspection.
| Who oversees | Maryland | Georgia | Federal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agency | Md. Department of Labor, Amusement Attraction Safety Inspection unit | Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire | U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission |
| Permanent park rides | Inspected at least once a year | Daily and annual inspections required by state rules | Not covered (fixed-site rides excluded) |
| Fair and carnival rides | Inspected at each new location; certificates valid no more than 30 days for non-inflatable rides | Not detailed in current reports | Mobile rides covered |
| Proof for riders | Yellow-and-white State of Maryland Certificate of Inspection | Inspection records not posted online | None |
Why doesn’t the federal government inspect roller coasters?
Since a 1981 change to the Consumer Product Safety Act, the CPSC’s authority covers mobile rides that move from site to site, such as carnival rides, but not rides permanently fixed at a theme park. That leaves permanent coasters, like Goliath, to state and local regulators, and the strength of those programs varies from state to state.
What should Maryland riders and parents check?
The state’s rider safety guidance offers practical steps:
- Look for the certificate. Rides inspected by Maryland should display the yellow-and-white State of Maryland Certificate of Inspection.
- Watch the ride first. Parents should observe a cycle, make sure a child can ride safely and note whether the operator is alert.
- Follow posted limits. Respect age, height and weight restrictions, use all restraints and keep hands, arms and legs inside.
- Stay seated until it stops. Do not ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Speak up. Ask the operator to stop the ride if a child is crying or in distress.
The state notes that accidents occur more often on rider-operated attractions such as go-karts, water slides and bumper cars.
How do you report an unsafe ride or an accident in Maryland?
If a ride looks unsafe, tell a park, fair or carnival representative first, then contact the state. The Amusement Attraction Safety Inspection unit lists its emergency line for ride accidents as 410-767-2648 and its main office as 410-767-2348, at 10946 Golden West Drive, Suite 160, Hunt Valley. Reports of accidents, injuries or unsafe conditions can also be sent through the unit’s email listed on the Department of Labor website.
Who is liable if someone is hurt on a ride in Maryland?
Liability depends on the facts: ride design and manufacturing, maintenance, operator training and inspection compliance can all be at issue, and attorneys say claims may be brought against operators, manufacturers or both. Maryland is also one of a handful of jurisdictions that still follow contributory negligence. In Coleman v. Soccer Association of Columbia (2013), the state’s highest court declined to abandon the doctrine, under which an injured person found even partly at fault can be barred from recovering damages. Anyone weighing a claim should talk with a Maryland-licensed attorney.
For more on what Six Flags has planned for its remaining parks, see our report on the Thrill Glider coaster coming in 2027.
What happens next in Georgia?
Investigators have not announced a cause, and Six Flags has not said when the paused coasters will reopen. WSB-TV has requested Goliath’s inspection records under Georgia’s open records law. The Baltimore Chronicle will update this story as officials release findings.
Featured image: The Goliath hypercoaster at Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell. Photo: Coasterman1234 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.