A trip to Six Flags Over Georgia turned into a nightmare Monday when a guest died after falling from the Goliath roller coaster, according to officials. Four others were injured in the incident at the park in Austell.

Emergency crews worked high above the ground to evacuate riders stranded on the stopped coaster. NewsChopper 2 footage showed passengers being removed four at a time via an emergency staircase along the ride’s elevated track. The City of Mableton reported its public safety director coordinated with Cobb County Police and park security during the response.

Cobb County Police confirmed the incident occurred shortly before 4 p.m., though investigators have not yet explained how the fall happened. Witnesses described seeing the guest fall from the ride, but officials emphasized that claims about mechanical failure, operator error, or rider conduct remain unverified until investigations complete their work.

Six Flags Over Georgia stated its park team and local authorities responded immediately and were cooperating fully with the investigation. The company offered condolences to the guest’s family, friends, and loved ones while expressing support for affected guests and employees. Park officials declined to release additional details regarding the deceased guest or timeline for Goliath’s potential reopening out of respect for privacy.

Goliath is a hypercoaster rising 200 feet with speeds up to 70 miles per hour. The ride features a 170-foot drop, another plunge of 175 feet, and a 540-degree spiral where riders experience forces reaching 4 Gs. It opened in 2006 and requires a minimum rider height of 54 inches.

Emergency crews faced significant challenges rescuing passengers after the train stopped with guests high above the park’s terrain, necessitating descent via the narrow elevated staircase. Guests were seen carefully moving from their seats along the exposed evacuation route during the operation.

Until investigators provide verified findings, questions about what happened to the guest, whether the train and restraints functioned as designed, and the park’s inspection records remain unanswered. Right now, one family faces unimaginable loss while four others were injured.