News Rider Dead After Being Thrown from Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia

[northdetective]

I remember these - went on Nitro opening year. Didn't create issue at all and worked super fine. Wonder if B&M will need to reimplement if it indeed is a manufacturer issue vs. staff/user error?

They seem super unobtrusive compared to a regular seatbelt given that they attach to the restraint instead of going around the rider's body, and I would assume the belts lock in length in a way that keeps the primary restraint in place, instead of traditional seatbelts which don't do much if the main restraint unlocks. I heard they were removed to speed up loading, but if we have to see redundant/failsafe restraints return, it looks like a good option to me

 

[MAZ]

I have been riding these things since they were introduced in the 90’s. The clamshell restraint has always been my favorite of all. This is truly frightening. Even as a 50 year old, I still make trips to ride these things. I haven’t posted here in years, but it’s the first place I visited when I found out about this. I can’t find any record of this type of restraint ever failing. Ever. But I truly believe that is what has happened. There is always a first time for everything. For a design of this nature to work flawlessly for thirty years, protecting literally millions and millions of riders over and over, its failure crushes me. My heart hurts for this man’s children and family. Sadness is all I feel for this whole situation.

 

[SixFlagsIssues]

I feel like I need to share how widespread this news is. It's been like 24 hours, and BOTH of my parents have independently said something about it. We are quite far from Georgia and neither of my parents are coaster enthusiasts.

 

[GASM]

My best friend is no coaster enthusiast (she wants to like them but also lives nowhere near a park and our Carowinds trip this year was poorly timed after her accident) and she’s the one that told me while we were at the mall yesterday.

We (thankfully, until now) hadn’t had an incident like this stateside in the era of everyone being glued to their phones and social media being as prevalent as it is now. This was bound to reach circles that the New Texas Giant and Ride of Steel ejections never did.

 

[horsesboy]

Not going to lie this one just kinda hits differently then what the Orlando Freefall and other previous incidents do. Not sure if it's because it was a B&M which was the company I viewed as more or less the gold standard for coasters. Not sure if it was because it was a coadter I had ridden only two months ago. Not sure if it was because I can see significant similarities between myself and him. But this one just kinda hits in a way where I have been walking around not sure how to feel or react to it for the last 24 hours.

 

[tursiops]

Closing all coasters for a few days is a small price to pay. I wouldn't want my family on one until it's been vetted to be safe. The poor fellow who passed didn't look that big. At 6'4" I've had restraints pushed down. No longer will i do that. I used to love Apollo's and Mako, but I don't know when I'll trust riding them again, without a lap belt or belt attached to the restraint. That's just me, everyone is different.

 

[Daveslot]

By far the fairest and most well written article about this tragedy:

On the Strange and Tragic Accident at Six Flags Over Georgia | National Review

I find it almost impossible to believe that this was a restraint failure. But the details are certainly peculiar.

www.nationalreview.com

 

[zdesigns]

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Direct Link to Embedded Media Source
former b&m mechanic shares his thoughts on this.

 

[ThoosieTube]

By far the fairest and most well written article about this tragedy:

On the Strange and Tragic Accident at Six Flags Over Georgia | National Review

I find it almost impossible to believe that this was a restraint failure. But the details are certainly peculiar.

www.nationalreview.com

So refreshing to read an article where the person actually knows what they’re talking about! I highly encourage everyone to give it a read

 

[northdetective]

I don't really understand what is to be gained by having what is already known regurgitated by a conservative journalist who has no documented connection to the amusement industry but I guess it's pertinent new information that B&Ms are famously safe if today's ur first day as a thoosie. How did u all find the usage of "Ceteris paribus" in context ?