Hassan Kariem, the 42-year-old Atlanta teacher who died after falling from Six Flags Over Georgia’s “Goliath” roller coaster, was remembered this week both by his school community and by strangers who knew him only through a shared love of amusement park rides.
Kariem had joined the public Facebook group “Roller Coaster Enthusiasts Club” on March 15, seven months before the accident. The group, founded 15 years ago, counts more than 104,000 members who use it to trade stories and photos from parks around the country. Since his death, members have posted tributes calling him “one of our own” and a “brother,” despite never having met him in person.
Kariem worked as the IT manager at Wesley International Academy, an Atlanta charter school, where he also taught technology classes and coached the robotics team. A school spokesperson said the community was “devastated” by his death.
“Throughout his time at Wesley, Mr Kariem served as our IT manager, a technology teacher and a robotics coach, leaving a lasting impact on generations of students and colleagues,” the spokesperson said. “His love for Wesley, dedication to our students, and commitment to our school community were evident in everything he did. Mr. Kariem was deeply loved and respected, and his absence will be felt throughout our school community.”
Kariem, a cancer survivor, was riding Goliath — Georgia’s tallest roller coaster — with his niece when he was ejected from the ride near its final turn. His cause of death has not been released, and an investigation is underway.
Multiple riders described the scene in interviews with local station 11 Alive. One woman said Kariem “didn’t fall directly onto us,” but struck a girl two rows ahead and hit the cart three separate times. “He was in our pictures,” she said. Four other riders were injured, and several were left covered in blood.
Other parkgoers who witnessed the fall from nearby described similar horror. Logan Conner, who was riding Goliath at the time with his fiancée, said the man “started levitating in the air sideways.” Nick Mendenhall, who had ridden the coaster with his son shortly before, said Kariem fell headfirst back into the coaster before being thrown from the car. “It felt like slow-motion, but it happened in an instant,” Mendenhall said. “I was just praying in those moments. I was praying, ‘God, please let him stay in that car.’”
Summer Bates, who had also ridden Goliath earlier that day, said the moment has stayed with her. “One thing I think that will stick with us is the sound of his body coming down,” she said.
Six Flags Over Georgia park president Richard Pretlow confirmed the ride has been shut down while the investigation continues. “We do not have an anticipated reopening date at this time,” he said.
