Kings Dominion avoids Six Flags coaster shutdowns

Catch up quick: A 42-year-old Atlanta man died Monday after being ejected from Goliath, a 20-year-old roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, Axios reports.

• Four others were injured. Six Flags closed nine similar roller coasters at six parks, including two at Carowinds in Charlotte, "out of an abundance of caution."

Zoom in: Swiss coaster maker Bolliger & Mabillard built Goliath, along with two Kings Dominion coasters: Dominator, a floorless coaster that opened in 2008, and Rapterra, billed as the world's "tallest wing roller coaster."

• Neither is a hypercoaster, the type of high-speed, steep-drop ride involved in the Georgia incident.
• The manufacturer also built Apollo's Chariot at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, which isn't owned by Six Flags.

What they're saying: Bolliger & Mabillard is "actively investigating the incident and will not comment further until we have a better understanding of what happened," spokesperson Olivier Bolliger told Axios in a statement Tuesday.

• A spokesperson for Busch Gardens Williamsburg said the park does regular ride inspections and continually collaborates with ride manufacturers and safety experts across the park.
• Kings Dominion didn't immediately respond to Axios' questions about additional safety inspections or precautions.

By the numbers: Roller coaster injuries are rare, according to a review of the latest International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions safety report, which it produced with the National Safety Council, shared with Axios.

• Of the estimated 482.8 million roller coaster rides taken in North America in 2024, 652 resulted in injuries — about 1.3 per million rides.

What we're watching: Whether Virginia parks conduct additional safety checks following the Georgia fatality.

This story has been updated with comment from Busch Gardens Williamsburg