The Atlanta teacher who died after being thrown from Six Flags Over Georgia’s “Goliath” roller coaster belonged to a Facebook community for roller coaster enthusiasts.
Hassan Kariem, 42, joined the public Roller Coaster Enthusiasts Club group on March 15, roughly seven months before the fatal incident at the Georgia amusement park.
Founded 15 years ago, the group now has more than 104,000 members who use the page to discuss rides and share their experiences at amusement parks.
Following Kariem’s death, members filled the group with tributes to the cancer survivor. Many described the father and family man as “one of our own” and a “brother,” despite never having met him.
Kariem was most recently an IT manager at Atlanta charter school Wesley International Academy. A school spokesperson said the community was “devastated” by his death.
“Throughout his time at Wesley, Mr Kariem served as our IT manager, a technology teacher and a robotics coach, leaving a lasting impact on generations of students and colleagues,” the spokesperson said.
“His love for Wesley, dedication to our students, and commitment to our school community were evident in everything he did.
“Mr. Kariem was deeply loved and respected, and his absence will be felt throughout our school community.”
Officials have not released Kariem’s cause of death. An investigation into the accident remains ongoing.
Goliath, the tallest roller coaster in Georgia, has been closed temporarily while authorities investigate.
“We do not have an anticipated reopening date at this time,” Richard Pretlow, president of Six Flags Over Georgia, said.
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Kariem was riding with his niece when he was ejected from the coaster.
Graphic souvenir photographs later circulated on social media and appeared to show Kariem tumbling upside down as fellow passengers screamed.
Several riders were reportedly splashed with his blood, while four other people sustained injuries.
“He didn’t fall directly onto us. He fell onto a girl two rows in front of us. He fell and hit the cart three different times,” a woman who was riding Goliath told 11 Alive Monday. “He was in our pictures.”
Logan Conner, who was on the ride with his fiancée, said Kariem appeared to “start levitating in the air sideways” as he was thrown through the air.
Nick Mendenhall, who had ridden Goliath with his son shortly before the accident, said Kariem fell headfirst back into the coaster.
According to Mendenhall, Kariem was ejected during the final turn of the three-and-a-half-minute ride.
“It felt like slow-motion, but it happened in an instant,” Mendenhall said.
“I was just praying in those moments. I was praying, ‘God, please let him stay in that car.’”
Summer Bates, who had rode the hypercoaster earlier Monday, also watched the fall happen.
“One thing I think that will stick with us is the sound of his body coming down,” the mom said.
With Post wires
