Six Flags to add seat belts to roller coasters after Georgia rider’s death

Six Flags is implementing safety measures on several of its roller coasters, including the addition of seat belts, following a fatal incident on one of its rides in Georgia. The decision comes after a 42-year-old man was ejected from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on October 12. Witnesses reported that the man, who was a passenger on the ride, rose out of his seat and fell headfirst back into the cart before being ejected.

The Goliath roller coaster, along with eight other similar coasters operated by Six Flags in the US and Canada, has been closed as investigators work to determine the cause of the incident. The restraint system used on these coasters, manufactured by Swiss company Bolliger & Mabillard, has been designed to provide a sensation of weightlessness while still ensuring passenger safety.

In a statement, Six Flags President and CEO John Reilly said that the company is taking additional measures to reinforce safety precautions at its parks, including the installation of seat belts on the Goliath and other coasters with similar restraint systems. However, the company has not disclosed which other coasters will receive the safety upgrades or when the closed rides will reopen.

The incident has prompted a review of safety procedures across Six Flags' theme parks, with the company enlisting independent engineers and inspectors to conduct a thorough examination. The closure of the Goliath and other similar coasters has also led to precautionary closures at other theme parks, including SeaWorld Orlando, which temporarily shut down its Mako roller coaster before reopening it after a weeklong closure.