Remembering Hassan Kariem, the Atlanta educator lost in the Six Flags tragedy

Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem helped young people explore what they could create with technology. At Wesley International Academy in Atlanta, his work connected teaching, school technology and robotics. His death at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday, October 12, has left a family and a school community mourning a man whose life deserves to be remembered beyond the circumstances of its ending.

An Atlanta educator and robotics mentor

Kariem was 42 and lived in Atlanta. He spent more than 12 years at Wesley, a public charter school serving kindergarten through eighth grade. His roles included technology teacher, IT manager and robotics coach. He held a master’s degree in instructional technology and volunteered with the school’s robotics team, bringing his expertise into both classroom learning and the activities students chose beyond it.

Wesley’s remembrance emphasized his devotion to students and the school community. Atlanta Public Schools also expressed sorrow over his death and the impact his absence would have on students and staff. Those tributes describe an educator whose work reached across the school: supporting the technology people used while helping children learn to build and experiment with it themselves.

His creativity continued outside work. A school biography quoted by ABC News described his interest in making custom items with laser engraving and 3D printers. He also enjoyed grilling, trying unfamiliar recipes, watching anime and spending time with family and friends. These everyday interests offer a warmer picture of the person behind the job title: someone who enjoyed making things, learning and sharing his time with people close to him.

A family and school community grieving

A relative who spoke to ABC News said Kariem had gone to the park with family to celebrate his niece’s birthday. The relative remembered him as devoted to his family and caring toward his wife and stepdaughter. The outing was supposed to be a celebration; the people who loved him are now facing an unexpected and deeply painful loss.

Family friend Elicia Day told WSB-TV that Kariem had already endured difficult experiences, including surviving cancer. She also said he and his daughter had survived a car fire only weeks earlier. Day expressed devastation at his death and called for a full investigation. “We want answers about how this happened,” she said. Her words reflect both grief for a friend and the need to understand what took him from them.

Readers can see family photographs of Hassan Kariem published by WSB-TV. They offer a way to remember his face and life without circulating images of his final moments.

What is known about the incident

Police said Kariem was ejected from the Goliath roller coaster shortly before 4 p.m. on October 12. Other guests were injured; WSB-TV reported that four people were taken to a hospital. Cobb County police and Georgia’s Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire are investigating. Authorities had not publicly established why he came out of the ride when this article was published.

Six Flags expressed condolences, said it was cooperating with investigators and announced precautionary closures of similar attractions. The company also said it was supporting affected guests and employees. The investigation remains open, and speculation about the cause should not be presented as a finding.

The brain-injury reports concern a different Six Flags park

The recent brain-injury reports involve a different attraction: X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. On September 29, that park announced X2’s permanent retirement amid lawsuits alleging serious brain injuries. Those allegations concern a separate ride and separate incidents. In its closure statement, Magic Mountain said X2 had passed safety tests and cited concern about guest confidence. The California litigation does not establish what caused Kariem’s death in Georgia.

Our condolences

The Black Angle extends its condolences to Kariem’s family, friends, students and colleagues, and wishes recovery to those injured. As investigators work toward answers, we remember the Atlanta educator who gave his time and knowledge to children. His loved ones deserve privacy, compassion and an accurate account of what happened. His life deserves attention, too.