Man dies after falling off Six Flags roller coaster in Georgia

A man died after falling off a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia outside of Atlanta on Oct. 12, local officials confirmed to USA TODAY.

The Cobb County Police Department said in an email that one person died and several were injured. The incident happened at about 3:58 p.m. local time, the department said.

Atlanta television stations WSB and 11 Alive reported that the man died after falling from the Goliath roller coaster at the park. WSB reported that four others were injured.

The man was ejected from his car, fell and hit the ride three times, 11 Alive reported, citing witnesses.

In a statement to USA TODAY, Six Flags said it was "deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today" and that it was cooperating with local authorities' investigation.

"Out of respect for the family's privacy, we will not be sharing additional details at this time," the statement said.

Goliath reaches speeds of up to 7­0­-­m­i­l­es­-­p­e­r­-­h­o­u­r and is 200 feet tall, according to the park's website.

According to findings published by The Doan Law Firm injury attorneys, there have been at least eight deaths tied to Six Flags Over Georgia customers or employees.

The park opened in 1967, and the first death at the park came in 1989 when an 11-year-old boy became unresponsive after riding the park's Z-Force rollercoaster. The cause of death was undetermined.

Three other deaths were related to the park's roller coasters, according to the law firm's study.

A groundskeeper walking below the park's Batman: The Ride in 2002 was kicked in the head by a passing coaster rider and died. In 2006, a 45-year-old with a heart condition suffered a fatal heart attack while aboard the park's Goliath ride. A 17-year-old was decapitated in 2008 after climbing into a restricted area underneath the tracks of the park's Batman: The Ride roller coaster.

Other deaths at the park were associated with traffic accidents and one case of a bacterial infection suspected to have been sustained after using the park's Hurricane Harbor wave pool in 2014.