Six Flags Over Georgia roller coaster incident: one dead, several hurt, Goliath shut as police investigate

One person has died and several others were injured in a roller coaster incident at Six Flags Over Georgia in Mableton, near Atlanta, on Monday 12 October, Cobb County Police said, CBS News reported. The incident happened shortly before 4pm local time, about 1am on Tuesday in Pakistan.

"Several people were reported injured, and one person has died," police said. They did not name the ride, the victim or the number of people hurt.

What we know

• The ride: police have not named it. CBS News Atlanta's cameras showed the Goliath coaster shut down, with riders being led down an emergency staircase from its highest hill.
• Goliath: opened in 2006, it is the park's tallest coaster at 200 feet (about 61 metres), with a 170-foot drop and a top speed of 70 mph (about 113 km/h).
• The park: guests were told over the loudspeakers that the park was closing and left calmly, one parent told CBS.
• Six Flags said it was "deeply saddened", is supporting the guests and staff affected and is cooperating fully with the police investigation.
• Mableton's mayor, Michael Owens, said the city's public safety director is working with Cobb County Police and the park.
• Shares: Six Flags stock fell sharply in after-hours trading after the news, CNBC reported.

The cause has not been given. Last month Six Flags said it would permanently close the X2 coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in California, after lawsuits alleging that more than 100 riders suffered brain injuries on it, CBS noted.

Riding coasters safely, wherever you are

The basics apply at any theme park, including those in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad: read the height, health and loose-item rules at the gate, keep the restraint locked until the ride stops, and do not ride if a bar or belt does not close properly. Travelling to the US for a holiday? Our currency converter turns park ticket prices into rupees.

We will update this story when police release the cause and the number of injured.