A former Six Flags Over Georgia ride operator has said the restraint on the Goliath rollercoaster could, in rare circumstances, be forced open, although it would require a tremendous amount of force.
Brycen Whatley, who previously worked at the Georgia theme park and is a rollercoaster enthusiast, discussed how Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem may have been ejected from the ride before falling to his death.
Whatley said Goliath is fitted with pin-and-gear arm restraints and cannot begin moving until they have been pulled down three notches, locking the rider into position.
He also raised the possibility of “pin-slipping”, in which components securing an arm restraint can come undone. However, he said this would normally affect only one latch and that the chances of the entire restraint opening were highly unlikely.
Whatley said a large amount of force could, nevertheless, cause the restraint to open. He stressed that such an event would be unlikely, but not impossible.
Whatley no longer works at the park and was not employed there when Hassan died, although he previously operated Goliath and other rides.
Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances of Hassan’s death. He was ejected from the car, struck the ride’s tracks several times and landed beneath the coaster.
Rollercoasters are designed with numerous safety features, but Whatley said they are not completely free of risk.
