Six Flags Adds Seat Belts to Roller Coasters Following Fatal Accident
Six Flags is retrofitting roller coasters with additional seat belts after a 42-year-old rider died in an accident at a Georgia park.
Six Flags Entertainment Corp. is installing supplemental seat belts on select roller coasters following the death of a rider on October 12. The incident, which occurred on the Goliath coaster in Georgia, resulted in the death of a 42-year-old passenger and left four others injured.
CEO John Reilly stated that the company is reinforcing safety measures by adding seat belts to the Goliath and other coasters featuring similar restraint systems. Currently, nine rides across five parks remain closed while engineering reviews and safety assessments are conducted.
The affected rides utilize clamshell restraints manufactured by Swiss design consultancy Bolliger & Mabillard. The industry-wide scrutiny has prompted other operators, such as La Ronde, to temporarily suspend operations of similar attractions as a precautionary measure.
Six Flags has not provided a timeline for the reopening of the affected rides. According to company officials, the schedule depends on engineering requirements, the availability of necessary components, and the completion of safety approval processes.