s were asked to evacuate the area.

One man was  freaking out, saying someone fell off  and was urging staff to call for help, Nelson added.

Police said several people were injured but did not specify how many or their conditions. CNN has reached out to authorities for more information.

 We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today,  Six Flags Over Georgia said in a statement Monday evening.  Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the guest's family, friends, and loved ones. 

Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit are investigating Kariem's death, police said, and have requested anyone with information to contact the department.

The Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire, which oversees safety inspections of amusement and carnival rides, has also launched an investigation.

 Our investigative team is conducting an in-depth and comprehensive review to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and to ensure full compliance with all applicable policies and procedures,  the agency said in a statement Tuesday.

 Our very professional inspectors have inspected every one of those (roller coasters) before the park season even started, and they're currently on the ground looking at every nook and cranny, conducting interviews and conducting a thorough review of what happened,  Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King said when asked about the incident during a live debate for Georgia's Insurance Commissioner hosted by the Atlanta Press Club Tuesday.

 I look forward to be able to report back to the Georgia public that these rides are safe, they will continue to be safe, and we will continue inspecting them from top to bottom,  King said.

A beloved teacher and inspiration to students

Kariem was a  cherished member  of Wesley International Academy, a public charter school in Atlanta, where he worked as an IT manager, technology teacher and robotics coach, Atlanta Public Schools said in a statement.

Kariem's  presence and impact will be deeply missed by our students, staff, and all those whose lives he touched,  the school district said.

In a separate statement shared with CNN affiliate WANF, Wesley International Academy (WIA) Executive Director Jason Marshall said the school community is  devastated by the loss of Hassan Kariem, affectionately known as Mr. Kariem, who was a beloved colleague, friend, and integral part of the Wesley family for more than 12 years. 

 Mr. Kariem was deeply loved and respected, and his absence will be felt throughout our school community,  the statement read.

Two of Kariem's former students described him as joyful, patient and an inspiration.

 He never got mad at us … He was always patient with us. He would joke with us,  former WIA student Soledad Gomez, who had Kariem as her computer lab teacher, told WANF.

Gomez told WANF Kariem inspired her to pursue a degree in elementary education, while her brother Juan Pablo Gomez told the outlet Kariem's class sparked his interest in information technology, a subject he's majoring in.

CNN has reached out to WIA for comment.

Several roller coasters paused

At least nine rides across several Six Flags parks in the US and Canada have been temporarily closed, a park spokesperson said. A ride was also closed at a former Six Flags park in Quebec. Several of those rides are categorized as hypercoasters - like Goliath -- rides made of steel with a height of more than 200 feet.

Goliath is manufactured by Bolliger   Mabillard, a Swiss company with a  stellar  safety record, according to Brian Avery, a professor at the University of Florida who specializes in ride safety and risk management.

Avery said Goliath features a waist restraint but has no over-the-shoulder harness like some other roller coasters -- a secondary restraint he believes should be considered.

 If you have your primary fail, what are you left with? Yeah, nothing,  he said.  And it's an impossible feat to stay contained if it did fail, because of the forces, the speed. 

Bolliger   Mabillard issued a statement calling Monday's deadly accident  tragic  and offering condolences to those affected.

The company said it is investigating but would have no further comment,  until we have a better understanding of what transpired. 

Every ride at its parks  undergoes extensive inspection and maintenance procedures,  according to Six Flags' website.

Daily inspections are undertaken by park teams, while third parties, including state ride inspectors, insurance inspectors and engineering experts, also regularly evaluate the rides, it says.

Six Flags Over Georgia will open again on Friday, as scheduled, a spokesperson for the park told CNN. Goliath will remain temporarily closed.

The-CNN-Wire

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