One person was killed and several others were injured in an incident involving a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia in the United States on Monday, prompting an investigation by local authorities and the temporary closure of similar rides at other parks.
Officials have not confirmed the cause of the death or explained how the other people were injured. The identity of the victims and the circumstances surrounding the incident have also not been disclosed.
Cobb County Chairwoman Lisa Cupid said detectives from the county’s major crimes unit were investigating the incident. She confirmed that one person had died and several others were injured, adding that the victims’ next of kin had been notified.
“A terrible tragedy occurred today at Six Flags Over Georgia,” Cupid said in a statement.
“I cannot imagine the horror the patrons and employees witnessed today, and my heart aches for the family who lost a loved one,” she added.
A spokesperson for Six Flags said the theme park and local authorities responded immediately and were cooperating fully with investigators.
“We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today,” the spokesperson said.
The company has temporarily closed nine similar roller coasters across six parks as a precaution while the incident is investigated. Six Flags operates theme parks across North America, although the company has not publicly identified all the rides affected by the temporary closures.
Authorities have not officially confirmed which attraction was involved in the Georgia incident. Local media reports identified the ride as Goliath, a roller coaster known for its high speeds and steep drops.
According to the park’s website, Goliath reaches speeds of up to 70 miles per hour (113 kilometres per hour) and rises to heights of around 200 feet (61 metres).
The investigation is expected to establish what happened during the incident and whether any mechanical failure or other factors contributed to the death and injuries. Officials have not yet released details about the condition of those injured or indicated when the affected rides might reopen.
The incident comes amid increased scrutiny of roller coaster safety at Six Flags parks. Last month, the company decided to permanently close a popular roller coaster at one of its California theme parks after dozens of people claimed they had suffered brain damage while riding it.
The Georgia incident adds to concerns about the safety of major amusement park attractions, although investigators have not established any connection between the two cases.
Six Flags has not announced a reopening date for the temporarily closed rides. The company’s cooperation with local authorities is expected to continue as investigators work to determine the circumstances of Monday’s incident.
