Six Flags plans to add seatbelts to a roller coaster in Georgia after a man was ejected from the ride to his death, a move that may lead to slower lines, according to an expert.
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that → plan → expert
Hassan Kariem, 42, was killed in a freak accident on the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell on October 12, when he was thrown from his seat in front of horrified passengers, including his family.
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he → kill → family
John Reilly, the CEO of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, announced Friday that seatbelts will be added to the ride, which has remained closed since the tragedy.
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which → announce → tragedy
'We are reinforcing safety precautions at our parks and taking additional measures, including adding seat belts on Goliath and other coasters with a similar restraint,' Reilly said.
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Reilly → reinforce → restraint
The CEO added that the park's ride operators complete a multi-stage training program that includes 'classroom instruction, hands-on training, and supervised, on-the-job experience, with additional instruction and evaluation provided as necessary.
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instruction → add → job
'
Goliath is one of nine rides that Six Flags has temporarily closed across five parks while they undergo safety reviews.
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they → close → reviews
Robert Niles, the editor of ThemeParkInsider.com, told WSB-TV that rides sometimes do not have seatbelts as a way to shorten wait times for riders.
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rides → tell → riders
That seat belt is an added layer, which up until now all the evidence has been that that clamshell restraint has been good enough that you don't need the extra security of the lap belt as well, which would take another moment or two to connect and disconnect at the end of the ride.
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which → add → ride
But right now, given what's happened, that might change the calculus for a lot of theme parks,' Niles said.
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Niles → give → parks
Hassan Kariem, 42, died in a freak accident on The Goliath, a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, on October 12
The park's CEO announced on Friday that seatbelts will be added to several rides following Kariem's death.
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seatbelts → die → death
Riders are pictured being evacuated from the ride after the accident
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Riders → picture → accident
Robert Niles, the editor of ThemeParkInsider.com, told WSB-TV that the additional safety feature 'would take another moment or two to connect and disconnect at the end of the ride'
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feature → tell → ride
Parkgoers told the outlet they were glad to see the addition of seatbelts, with some noting they would now feel safe enough to get back on the ride.
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they → tell → ride
'Once they add those seatbelts, I'll definitely be getting back on it,' a woman at the park said.
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woman → add → park
The Six Flags CEO said the company also plans to use independent engineers and ride inspection specialists to review the safety procedures of attractions across all parks.
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company → say → parks
'I know trust is earned through actions and not words.
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trust → know → actions
As CEO of Six Flags, I take that responsibility personally,' Reilly wrote.
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Reilly → take → responsibility
Kariem was an education technology professional at Wesley International Academy, in Georgia, who was at the park to celebrate the 13th birthday of his fiancée's niece, according to his future brother-in-law, Joshua Nelson, who spoke to CNN.
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who → celebrate → CNN
Witnesses said he flew out of his seat and collided with the ride's metal frame several times before falling to the ground, leaving several of them covered in his blood.
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he → say → blood
The Goliath roller coaster reaches top speeds of 70mph and climbs over 200 feet in the air, making it the tallest roller coaster in Georgia
The Goliath roller coaster reaches top speeds of 70 mph and climbs more than 200 feet into the air, making it the tallest roller coaster in Georgia.
During the roughly 3 1/2-minute ride, riders 'navigate through razor-sharp turns and soar over colossal hills,' according to the Six Flags website.
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riders → reach → website
It remains unclear exactly how Kariem fell from the ride, and investigators still haven't said what went wrong on the coaster.
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what → remain → coaster
Images show he was ejected headfirst from his seat while other riders watched.
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riders → show → seat
The incident comes about one month after Six Flags Magic Mountain in California announced it was demolishing its notorious X2 roller coaster following a series of lawsuits alleging it caused severe injuries to riders.
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it → come → riders
The Daily Mail has reached out to Six Flags Entertainment Corporation for comment.
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Mail → reach → comment
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