ed people screaming and running.

She said the incident, while tragic, had no effect on their decision to return.

 It's Fright Night! I mean, honest to God, if the Goliath was open tonight, I would ride that Goliath,  she said, adding she teaches her children not to be  scared of anything. 

Other patrons had similar sentiments.  I feel bad for the family. My heart goes out to them, but you know, accidents happen,  a Texas grandmother told CNN while waiting to enter the park.

One Georgia native said his grandchildren were looking forward to an evening of fall break fun.  They're concerned, they're compassionate, but they're not worried. 

Where the investigation stands

An investigative team is conducting a review of the evidence, equipment and documentation, Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King said in a statement Thursday, to determine if state safety requirements were followed.

King is planning to hold a news conference next week with an update, he told CNN.

No investigative findings were released at a Friday news conference held by local authorities, with officials citing the active investigation.

Cobb County Police are assisting park and state officials as they work to determine a possible cause of the incident, according to Cobb County Chairwoman Lisa Cupid, who said verified information would be shared with the community  when it is appropriate.

 Agencies are still active and need space to do the work without speculation,  Cupid said, emphasizing the importance of Six Flags Over Georgia to the community.

 Our community deserves a fact-based review, a thorough review with clear answers when the responsible agencies are able to give them,  she added.

Sitting at the center of the park, Goliath has been closed since the incident, Cupid confirmed.

What the records show

As the investigation remains underway, CNN analysis has revealed alleged maintenance issues and guest injuries at several Six Flags parks.

Safety records between 2016 and 2026 reviewed by CNN show Goliath appears to have passed annual state safety inspections.

 Goliath's most recent OCI inspection occurred on March 16, 2026. No violations, deficiencies, citations, or red tags were reported during that inspection,  King said in a statement Thursday obtained by CNN affiliate WSB.

Records show some issues with Goliath, such as a ride inspection report earlier this year, which noted the bushings on the roller coaster needed replacement. Bushings are components that help reduce vibration, according to WSB.

CNN has reached out to Six Flags to determine where the bushings are located.

 Safety is at the center of everything we do,  Six Flags said on its 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. 

At least 10 roller coasters across six other Six Flags locations in the US and Canada are also closed  out of an abundance of caution  in the wake of Kariem's death, a Six Flags spokesperson told CNN on Tuesday.

Six Flags Over Georgia remains  focused on supporting those affected and maintaining the safe operation of our park and attractions,  according to a Friday statement from the park's president.  All other rides and attractions that were scheduled to operate will be available to guests, subject to normal operating conditions and availability. 

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.

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

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

Goliath features a waist restraint but has no over-the-shoulder harness like some other roller coasters -- a secondary restraint Avery 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. 

At the news conference, Cupid urged patrons to be  mindful  of the tragedy and communications from the park and the state as they plan their visits.

CNN's Melanie Hicken, Sneha Dhandapani, Karina Tsui, Isabel Rosales and Julianna Bragg contributed to this report.

The-CNN-Wire

™     2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.