The beloved dad and teacher who tragically died after falling from a rollercoaster at Six Flags Over Georgia had recently survived a car accident.Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, died in a horror fall from the Goliath ride while visiting the park with his family.Horrified witnesses told local media that Hassan came loose from his seat and fell to the ground.The ride was stopped after the incident, with aerial footage from the scene showing riders being helped down from the roller coaster.Speaking to 11Alive, one visitor said they spent ‘more than an hour’ stuck on the ride before they were eventually able to get down.The shocking incident has left Hassan’s family devastated with a family friend telling WSB-TV: “We’re absolutely devastated by this loss. Any loss of a family member or friend is tragic but to lose him in this manner is beyond [what] words can even express.”
The family friend also revealed that the Atlanta Public Schools educator had faced several tough times in recent years, including having cancer twice, most recently in 2018.Hassan and his 10-year-old daughter also survived a car fire just weeks ago.It’s unclear what caused the fire.Hasan was an employee at Wesley International Academy in the Atlanta Public Schools district, which has since paid tribute to the teacher and IT manager.The Wesley International Academy 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,” the statement said.