What was meant to be a joyful family birthday outing at Six Flags Over Georgia became an unimaginable ordeal for Hᴀssan Jihad Ibn Kariem’s loved ones.

The 42-year-old Atlanta father and school IT manager was riding the Goliath roller coaster on October 12, 2026, alongside his 13-year-old niece as the family celebrated her birthday.

According to the girl’s father, Joshua Nelson, she later described Hᴀssan appearing to pᴀss out during the ride before his restraint seemed to come loose. Her account has raised painful questions about the moments leading up to the incident.

However, a medical emergency has not been confirmed as the cause, and investigators are still working to establish exactly what happened.

Hᴀssan’s family is now left grieving a man they described as a devoted father, husband, and uncle. His final outing was supposed to create happy memories for the family—especially his young niece. Instead, she witnessed an experience no child should have to process alone.

Authorities are examining the circumstances surrounding the incident, while the family waits for answers about whether the tragedy could have been prevented.

For now, the central questions remain unresolved: What caused Hᴀssan to become unresponsive, and what led to the restraint coming loose?

The investigation will need to establish the facts before those questions can be answered.

SOURCE: https://abcnews.com/US/family-flags-victims-niece-speaks-after-witnessed-uncles/story?id=137317549