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Two of Canada’s Wonderland’s most popular roller coasters were shut down following a fatal accident at a ride in a Georgia theme park.
A man died at Six Flags Over Georgia after falling off Goliath, a 200-foot-tall roller coaster, on Monday. Four others were also injured.
The man was reportedly thrown from his seat, fell, and hit the ride multiple times before he died in front of horrified witnesses.
The park was evacuated after the tragic incident.
Closed, effectively immediately
Similar attractions to Goliath have been temporarily closed “out of an abundance of caution” at other Six Flags parks, including Canada’s Wonderland’s Behemoth and Leviathan, a company spokesperson said in a statement to the Toronto Sun .
“The safety of our guests and team members remains one of our highest priorities,” they added.
Goliath, manufactured by Bollinger and Mabillard, is classified as a “hypercoaster,” meaning a roller coaster that stands at 200 feet to 300 feet tall. It has a 196-foot drop and reaches speeds of up to 112 km/h.
Canada’s Wonderland’s Behemoth, which is manufactured by the same company, is slightly larger and faster, standing at 230 feet tall and reaching speeds of up to 123 km/h.
Statement about the rider
“We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today,” they added, noting that the Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is providing support to guests and staff who were impacted, and the park is cooperating with the investigation by local authorities.
Canada’s Wonderland was open on Thanksgiving, but as of Monday afternoon, visitors were unable to ride either Behemoth or Leviathan.
It is unknown when the two roller coasters and other rides at Six Flags parks will reopen.
Along with Canada’s Wonderland and Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation operates nine other major theme parks across North America, including Darien Lake, Cedar Point and Kings Island.
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Canada’s Wonderland remains open
The Vaughan amusement park is open from Thursdays to Sundays for the remainder of October, notably for its Halloween-themed evenings and weekends.
It will remain open on weekends and during the holidays for Winterfest before shutting down and reopening in the spring.
The cause of Monday’s incident is not yet known.
The death on Monday marks the seventh at the Georgia park, including one where a rider suffered an apparent heart attack on Goliath in 2006 — the year the ride opened.
In August, a roller coaster ride at a Six Flags Magic Mountain in California was linked to two deaths and numerous other serious injuries reported by riders over the past two decades.
—With additional reporting from Brian Towie