Why these roller coasters are closed after a rider’s death at Six Flags in Georgia

(NEXSTAR) – An investigation is underway and several roller coasters across the U.S. have been shuttered after a man fell to his death at a Six Flags near Atlanta on Monday.

The man, identified as 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem of Atlanta, appeared to have been “ejected” from the Goliath coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, the Cobb County Police Department said Tuesday. He “struck other patrons before falling beneath the attraction,” where he was found “unresponsive and not breathing.”

Logan Conner, who was on Goliath at the same time, told NBC that Kariem was “levitating in the air sideways.”

“We made direct eye contact with him,” he recounted.

Authorities said they were still investigating what caused the incident. They did not give an update on those who were injured on the ride.

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, meanwhile, has since temporarily closed nine other roller coasters across six of its parks. A park spokesperson told Nexstar’s NewsNation that the closures are “out of an abundance of caution.”

Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois

Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain near Los Angeles

Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey

Fury 325 and Thunder Striker at Carowinds in North Carolina

Orion and Diamondback at Kings Island near Cincinnati

Leviathan and Behemoth at Canada’s Wonderland

These parks were already scheduled for seasonal midweek closures on Tuesday and Wednesday.

While the spokesperson didn’t expand on why these rides were shuttered, all but one were manufactured by the Swiss-based Bolliger & Mabillard. Goliath at Magic Mountain was manufactured by Giovanola. Bolliger & Mabillard did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Nexstar, but said in a statement obtained by The Associated Press that it was “actively investigating the incident [in Georgia] and will not comment further until we have a better understanding of what happened.”

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident,” the company said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the family and those affected.”

Goliath is described as a “hypercoaster,” as are Nitro and Diamondback. According to Bolliger & Mabillard, hypercoasters are “focused on speed, airtime, and towering views.” They feature the company’s “innovative lap bar restraint design [which] provides an incomparable feeling of freedom.”

Georgia’s Goliath is the slowest and shortest of the now-shuttered coasters, reaching speeds of 70 mph across 4,480 feet with an elevation of 200 feet. It falls behind Raging Bull in speed (73 mph) and elevation (202 feet), and California’s Goliath in distance (4,500 feet).

Both Goliath rides are considered fours on the five-point “Thrill Level” scale used by Six Flags. Six others – Diamondback, Orion, Thunder Striker, Fury 325, Nitro, and Raging Bull – are rated as fives.

In 2006, when Georgia’s Goliath opened, a man died after likely having a heart attack on the coaster, said Doan Law Firm, which tallies amusement park accidents and represents victims. Kariem is at least the seventh person to die at the Georgia park since 1989.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.