MABLETON, Ga. (AP) — Six Flags Over Georgia opened its gates Friday evening for the first time since a man fell to his death from one of the amusement park’s towering roller coasters.
A steady trickle of vehicles drove into the park, some of which had lined up outside about an hour before opening. Most of the visitors said they hadn’t thought about canceling their plans after Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, a 42-year-old school employee from Atlanta, was thrown from the Goliath coaster on Monday.
“We didn’t plan on riding that specific ride,” said Alayna Bruce, who was visiting the park with family. “Hopefully, we can enjoy all the other stuff they have.”
Eleanor Adcock, of Griffin, Georgia, said she had second thoughts after hearing about what happened and said she probably wouldn’t be riding any roller coasters. But she said she still looked forward to the park’s Halloween-themed Fright Fest attractions of haunted houses and mazes.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t let an incident like this like scare everybody out of just going out and enjoying yourself,” she said. “But it’s still very alarming.”