Two of Carowinds' biggest roller coasters remain closed with no reopening date after a fatal fall at a Six Flags park in Georgia.
Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds shut down Tuesday, Oct. 13, after 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem was ejected from the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Oct. 12 and fell to his death, WSOC-TV reported. Both Carowinds rides already have seat belts, according to WSOC-TV, but remain closed pending safety work and reviews.
Six Flags President and CEO John Reilly announced the safety measures in an Oct. 23 letter to guests and passholders. The company will add seat belts to Goliath and to coasters "with a similar restraint," Reilly wrote. Six Flags spokesperson Kristin Fitzgerald told NBC News that three rides will get new belts: Goliath in Georgia, Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey and Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America in Illinois.
Fury 325 and Thunder Striker are not among the three receiving new seat belts. They are closed for the broader safety review.
"I know trust is earned through actions and not words," Reilly said in the letter. Six Flags has engaged independent engineers and ride inspection specialists to review safety procedures across every ride at every park, according to the letter. The company said affected rides will not reopen until required safety work and reviews are complete. NBC News reported that Six Flags did not respond to a request for comment about when the coasters might reopen.
Nine rides at six parks closed after the Oct. 12 incident. Goliath, Fury 325 and Thunder Striker were all built by manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard, according to WCNC Charlotte. Eight rides besides Goliath remain closed at five parks, Reilly's letter stated. More than 220 roller coasters across Six Flags parks continue to operate.
Fury 325 has faced previous closures. The ride closed for nearly two weeks in July after inspectors found a foundation issue, WCNC reported. In July 2023, a cracked support beam shut Fury 325 for more than a month.
Investigators have not announced a cause for Kariem's ejection from Goliath. Cobb County Police and the Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire are investigating, according to park.fan.
Carowinds is scheduled to be open Nov. 6 through Nov. 8 and on Nov. 14, 15, 21 and 22, according to park.fan. WinterFest begins Nov. 27. Whether Fury 325 and Thunder Striker will reopen before then remains unknown.
