r/news • u/Bloated_Hamster • 7h ago

Visitor dies after accident on Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia

https://www.waff.com/2026/10/12/visitor-dies-after-accident-goliath-six-flags-over-georgia/
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u/BobLabReeSorJefGre 6h ago

This is the first time a fatal accident has ever occurred on a roller coaster made by Bolliger & Mabillard that was not caused by a pre-existing health condition or someone illegally re-entering the ride area and being struck by the train (their first coaster went into operation in 1990). Rollercoasters are very safe, and the statistics prove that. The investigation is under way. Most likely all Six Flags owned B&M coasters with clamshell restraints will add seatbelts (some already have them). This will add a layer of redundancy. I also want to state that I am not judging anyone who is afraid of rollercoasters or who just doesn’t like them.

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u/pjs32000 5h ago

To elaborate... seatbelts would add an ADDITIONAL layer of redundancy, as even without one there would already be redundancy on the restraint design. You're likely aware of this, but many reading your comment may not be.

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u/gplusplus314 4h ago

Going off memory, I believe the B&M clamshell restraints have 3 locks in the mechanism. All 3 would have to fail before the seatbelts are in play.

Definitely multiple locks, but the number could be 2 or 4, I don’t exactly remember.

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u/BobLabReeSorJefGre 2h ago

Thank you for providing this additional context. That is what I meant. But you are right. I should have specified.

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u/5kyl3r 5h ago

a bit mind-blowing they don't just include lap belts as a safety net that we all hope we'll never need. the initial cost vs PR damage seems like an easy decision

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u/BobLabReeSorJefGre 4h ago

Apollo’s Chariot was the first B&M Hypercoaster. It opened in 1999. This is the first time this has happened across B&M’s Hypercoaster model range. Although a bird did die on Apollo’s Chariot’s opening day when it struck Fabio in the face.

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u/Kentust 1h ago

One death every 30 years isn't impressive. For other industries it makes sense: the juice is worth the squeeze, people die in airline accidents and especially private planes pretty frequently but at least in those situations transportation is being provided, value created, and many safe trips. Here, it is a meaningless thrill, a needless risk of life and limb with no payout besides a small amount of dopamine for certain individuals and the downside of traumatizing bystanders and first responders.

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u/BobLabReeSorJefGre 1h ago

How is it not impressive? The service being provided doesn’t matter for that point. This company has built 136 rollercoasters in 36 years. Roughly 130 of those coasters are currently in an operational state (only three coasters they have ever constructed are currently not standing), and this is the first time where they could even potentially be at fault for death. That’s an amazing track record.

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u/Kentust 1h ago

To me, the goal for deaths is zero. Much as the tobacco industry abused nicotine addicts to the detriment of their health the coaster and park industry are just trying to profit off of people's need for dopamine in an increasingly abysmal society. They aren't providing a good, and they're killing people. So yeah, I'm unimpressed.

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u/BobLabReeSorJefGre 1h ago

By that logic I could say people go to see Movie’s as something fun that doesn’t accomplish anything vital to living one’s life, and that someone could experience a seizure induced by a movie that causes them to lose their life. Respectfully, the comparisons you are making and your original point make no sense.

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u/daboswinney123 2h ago

Seatbelt checks take time, and it leads to longer lines. It can be a significant time waster on some rides. That's the factor they consider, not the cost of the belts. And for the record i don't disagree that most rides should have an additional belt.

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u/aka_chela 18m ago

Disney has this solved with regards to seatbelts, and could easily be adopted by other parks. The CM walks down the line as you pull on the yellow strap. It takes 30 seconds at most unless someone is non-compliant.

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u/5kyl3r 2h ago

yeah that doesn't surprise me, but still disappointing

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u/Plane_Garbage 4h ago

Imo all restraints should have a seatbelt (where practical) backup.

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u/taintitsweet 4h ago

I feel like there’s no reason they should not have the seatbelt already. It’s a proven effective safety mechanism.

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u/BobLabReeSorJefGre 4h ago

Every B&M Hypercoaster since at least 2009 was built with them installed, with the exception of Mako in 2016.

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u/Theletter14 2h ago

They slow down operations, cost more money, and don't make any difference for safety. It is just for the mental comfort of the rider.

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u/BobLabReeSorJefGre 1h ago

Today proved that in the incredibly miniscule chance the several safety systems around the clamshell fail, the seatbelt can save you. Seatbelts on B&M Hypercoasters are very tight, and would be incredibly difficult to get out of.

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u/invertedspheres 1h ago

They slow down operations, cost more money, and don't make any difference for safety.

99.9% of the time this is true. But, that .01% it's not, it ends up costing the company hundreds of millions of dollars.

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u/taintitsweet 1h ago

Seatbelts don’t make a difference for safety?

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u/UmberJamber 5h ago

Weirdly knowledgeable comment. Do you work for Bolliger & Mabillard, by chance?

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u/BobLabReeSorJefGre 5h ago

Nope. I’ve just been a roller coaster enthusiast for 11 years.

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u/danishjuggler21 4h ago

Grant O'Brien, is that you?

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u/BobLabReeSorJefGre 4h ago

I actually don’t get that reference.

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u/eirinne 5h ago

Are you Phineas or Ferb?

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u/freshapepper 5h ago

We’re (enthusiasts) all super nerds and know all of the facts and information. I feel confident speaking for the lot of us when I say: a fatality on a B&M Hyper coaster (the kind mentioned in the incident) is absolutely fucking flooring. They’re considered one of the most “sure things” in terms of reliability and safety.

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u/welfordwigglesworth 3h ago

There are dozens of us! I was discussing this accident with my dad today and explaining B&M restraint mechanics and he took a long pause and said “I think you might know too much about this”

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u/freshapepper 3h ago

Hobbies are cool, man. This one has some of the best people!

  1. SteVe 2. The Voyage 3. Maverick. 4. Shivering Timbers 5. The Beast.

(Raging Bull is my favorite B&M Hyper, but people dislike the truth.)

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u/BobLabReeSorJefGre 2h ago
  1. Wicked Cyclone 2. Phoenix 3. SteVe 4. Thunderhead 5. I305 (My favorite hyper is Diamondback.)

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u/BobLabReeSorJefGre 2h ago

One can never know too much about roller coasters.

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u/Jakookula 4h ago

What do you think could have happened? I have a trip to cedar point planned for this weekend and I have to admit I’m extremely shook…

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u/Ltates 4h ago

Most likely? Either lack of maintenance and or ride operator mistake. Confounding factors such as physical disabilities can also lead to injuries (see stardust racers fatality due to a disabled rider leading to him breaking a femur mid ride then fatally injuring his head when he slipped from the lap restraint from said broken bone)

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u/Jakookula 4h ago

The lack of maintenance point is definitely the part that is worrying! I never trusted six flags like I did cedar fair. I unfortunately saw the pictures and the guy was pretty big but the restraint was completely unlocked. There’s no way he could have held himself in until the end of the ride

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u/Version_1 36m ago

Let's be honest here: there have been a lot of instances where people were too big, the restrain looked locked but wasn't and the ops just sent the train out.

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u/mtzvhmltng 3h ago

if it makes you feel any better, the safest time to ride a rollercoaster is probably right after a very public rollercoaster accident, because you know all the ride operators will be very on guard and alert for malfunctions because it's top of mind again.

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u/BobLabReeSorJefGre 4h ago

Cedar Point has zero rides with the exact restraint system that Goliath has. Follow the information signs and operator instructions, and you will be fine.

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u/Jakookula 4h ago

Sure but that’s kinda beside the point. I’ve been to cedar point more times than I can count so I know what the restraints are like and not all of them have a redundant buckle. So even if it’s not exactly the same, it’s still nerve wracking

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u/freshapepper 4h ago

The only coaster that doesn’t have a redundant belt at cedar point is top thrill two which is hydraulic not ratcheting (not that that helps at all, I know)

I definitely was (and definitely still fucking am) in the minority of people who felt uncomfortable on a B&M Hyper without the redundant belt. It REALLY makes me upset that my fears were right (seemingly. We don’t know and won’t know causes until the investigation)

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u/Jakookula 4h ago

Yeah I remember a few rides like that, specifically the one at kings island and Carowinds I think? It’s been over 10 years since I’ve been to either so my memory might not be accurate. I’m right there with you, it made me nervous too and I’m not sure id go on one like it at this point. I haven’t been on the new top thrill yet, I guess I’ll see how I feel about it when I get there

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u/freshapepper 4h ago

Do it, it’s an amazing experience.

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u/BobLabReeSorJefGre 4h ago

Is there any coaster in particular you are worried about? I will try to alleviate your fears if I can. I know less about the safety systems of flat rides, but I can assure you that those are very safe too.

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u/Lifes-a-lil-foggy 4h ago

I’ve been seeing this a lot in this thread and it doesn’t make me feel better. Even the companies we once could rely on seem to be cutting corners and there’s others mentioning Six Flags maintenance budgets being cut too.
Not even the safety on rides meant to throw you into the air and defy gravity are exempt from being slashed. Crazy.

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u/wavinsnail 4h ago

I don't think B&M is cutting corners on a 20 year old ride

It would be much more likely operator error(which is terrifying to me that most ride operators are kids paid minimum wage), or poor maintenance on Six Flags part

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u/freshapepper 4h ago

For sure! Maintenance vs. safety record of a ride are very different. B&M is the company you buy from when you want reliability and safety. But none of that makes a bit of difference if you let this machinery degrade lower than the manufacturer intended.

5

u/babydykke 4h ago

This is a weird thing to say for one incident out of millions and rides. No matter which way you put it, this is extremely rare

0

u/aliamokeee 4h ago

Well. Guess this is that statistical likelihood.

0

u/[deleted] 2h ago

[deleted]

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u/freshapepper 1h ago

FWIW no one asked for your opinion on this matter.

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u/babydykke 4h ago

This is pretty common knowledge for roller coasters enthusiasts. B&M is one of the most well known coaster manufacturers. You can actually tell by the tracks which ride is made by which manufacturer

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u/entenduintransit 4h ago

weird comment. B&M is well known for their safety track record and you don't even have to be that much of a coaster enthusiast to know that (I'm not)

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u/OMGHart 5h ago

If you don’t have a YouTube channel, you should. I’d subscribe for more quality information like this.

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u/BobLabReeSorJefGre 4h ago

I recommend Coaster College or ElToroRyan for the likes of this. Thank you.

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u/DreamingTree808 4h ago

We love a good block zone

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u/pjs32000 1h ago

I'll add Ryan the Ride mechanic to that list

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u/BobLabReeSorJefGre 1h ago

Yep. He’s another great channel.

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u/Teddy_Raptor 4h ago

There’s many many channels with this depth of information!

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u/Duemont8 5h ago edited 5h ago

I assume it was an operator error rather than being an issue with the ride. Rollercoaster bars have so many built in fail safes

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u/Whosebert 5h ago

im thinking park maintenance issue but really no one knows anything yet.

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u/[deleted] 5h ago

[deleted]

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u/Duemont8 5h ago

The article didn't say that he fell off after it got stuck. It just says that he fell off and the ride was stopped to evacuate it

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u/SAULucion 5h ago

it's such a fun coaster, surely they won't shut it down

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u/FriendlyEyeFloater 4h ago

“Pre existing health condition”

Six Flags recently settled a wrongful-death lawsuit from the family of a 22-year-old man who died after riding the coaster in 2022, and three more lawsuits alleging traumatic brain injuries were filed last week.

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u/BobLabReeSorJefGre 4h ago

X2 was manufactured by Arrow Dynamics, not Bolliger & Mabillard.