Couple share eyewitness account of Six Flags rollercoaster incident that killed one and left several injured
A couple have shared their eyewitness accounts of a deadly rollercoaster incident at Six Flags Over Georgia, claiming a man was 'ejected' from the ride and fell onto the roof of a nearby attraction.
Six Flags has temporarily closed nine rollercoasters across six amusement parks after the tragic incident involving a ride in the US state of Georgia, which killed one and injured several on Monday afternoon (12 October).
Officials did not confirm how the person died, nor how the others were injured or their medical conditions after the incident, but Cobb County Police Department major crimes unit detectives are investigating.
According to the BBC, witnesses told local media that they saw a man ejected from the coaster. However, such an account is yet to be verified by the BBC.
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Local Atlanta outlet 11 Alive quoted a witness saying that the individual came loose from his seat on the ride before hitting the coaster and fellow riders and subsequently falling onto the roof of a nearby park attraction.
The witness claimed that the horrifying incident was captured in souvenir photos that were automatically taken of the rollercoaster while it was in motion.
Another pair of witnesses, a husband and wife, also told the outlet that the man had been ejected from the rollercoaster and had struck it afterwards.
They added that park workers made sure to check their safety harnesses before the ride set off.
Attractions at the parks that are similar to the coaster were closed 'out of an abundance of caution', according to a Six Flags Entertainment Corporation spokesperson, who said staff members and local authorities responded immediately and the park is cooperating with the investigation.
"We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today," the spokesperson said, adding that the company is providing support to guests and staff who were impacted.
Authorities and Six Flags did not identify the rollercoaster. However, local TV stations showed video of passengers being evacuated from the Goliath coaster.
Goliath, which was opened in 2006, reaches a top speed of 70 mph with a height of 200 feet, according to the park’s website.
Lisa Cupid, Cobb County Board of Commissioners chairwoman, said the next of kin of the deceased have been notified.
"I cannot imagine the horror the patrons and employees witnessed today, and my heart aches for the family who lost a loved one," Cupid said.
"We are all grappling with how something so devastating could happen at a place that has given generations of families such happy memories."
Tyla has reached out to Six Flags for further comment.
Rhiannon Ingle