AUSTELL, GA — Police on Tuesday identified the man who was fatally ejected from a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, falling beneath the ride.
The incident happened around 4 p.m. Monday at the Austell amusement park. Officers found Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, of Atlanta, unresponsive and not breathing, Cobb County Police said.
CCPD's Major Crimes Unit was activated, and investigators interviewed witnesses and employees.
By their account, police said Kariem hit other riders when he was ejected from the roller coaster and fell beneath the ride.
It was not immediately known what led to the deadly ejection.
Six Flags visitors described watching Kariem being tossed from the coaster train and falling to his death, causing the theme park operator to temporarily close nine similar roller coasters nationwide.
Several other people were hurt but officials have not released any information about their injuries or conditions.
"We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today," a park spokesperson told The Associated Press, adding that the company is providing support to guests and staff who were impacted.
Authorities and Six Flags did not identify the ride associated with the man's death, but local TV stations showed video of passengers being evacuated from the Goliath roller coaster.
The park already was scheduled to be closed Tuesday. One of Goliath's trains remained on its track Tuesday, seemingly where it stopped as it was climbing the ride's first hill.
RELATED: 1 Dead After Incident Involving Roller Coaster At Six Flags Over GA
Logan Conner said he was on Goliath with his fiancée when he saw the man come out of his seat.
"The man started levitating in the air sideways," he told NBC. "We made direct eye contact with him."
Lisa N. Cupid, chairwoman of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, on Monday called the fatal fall "a terrible tragedy." She added the county is working with Six Flags during the police investigation.
"I cannot imagine the horror the patrons and employees witnessed today, and my heart aches for the family who lost a loved one. Additional information will be released by law enforcement as it is confirmed," Cupid said.
"Six Flags Over Georgia is a significant part of our tourism landscape, drawing visitors from across our county, our state and the Southeast. I look forward to learning more as the investigation unfolds.
"In the meantime, please keep in your thoughts the family of the deceased, those who were injured, the employees and leadership of Six Flags and our community. We are all grappling with how something so devastating could happen at a place that has given generations of families such happy memories."
The death is at least the seventh at the park since 1989, including two people who were in restricted areas and struck by roller coasters and two who died in auto accidents, according to the Doan Law Firm, which tallies amusement park accidents and represents victims.
In 2006, a man died after likely having a heart attack on the Goliath coaster, the law firm said.
Goliath, which opened in 2006, reaches a top speed of 70 mph with a height of 200 feet, according to the park's website. The park in suburban Atlanta opened in 1967.
On its website, Six Flags stated it prioritizes safety and inspects rides daily.
"At Six Flags, safety is not a single inspection, a training course or a checklist. It is a culture that influences every decision we make," the park stated on its website.
Police asked anyone with information on the case to call Major Crimes at (770) 499-3945.
The Associated Press contributed reporting and writing.
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