A 42-year-old man died after he was thrown from his seat on Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia. The company temporarily closed nine similar roller coasters across North America as a precaution. Georgia officials are reviewing the incident, while the ride's manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard, is also investigating. Goliath has operated at the park for two decades and reaches 70 miles per hour after a 200-foot drop.
Although roller coaster deaths are extremely rare, the incident has drawn attention to differences in safety rules. States oversee permanent amusement park rides in the United States. Federal safety officials can regulate rides that travel between locations, but they cannot oversee permanent rides. Senator Ed Markey has repeatedly proposed changing this law. University of Florida safety expert Brian Avery also supports stronger federal oversight.
Park operators generally follow industry safety standards covering ride design, construction, and forces on passengers. They also use several layers of inspection. However, state requirements differ: Florida's largest theme parks inspect their own rides, while Texas relies on private inspectors hired by operators or insurers.
