Nick Mendenhall planned an outing to Six Flags with his 14-year-old son, unaware of the tragic events that would unfold. A 42-year-old man tragically fell to his death while riding the Goliath roller-coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, leading to the closure of Goliath and nine similar rides at Six Flags parks in North America for investigation.
Mendenhall had just ridden the Goliath with his son shortly before the incident and witnessed the fall. He shared his experience with Dave Seglins on “As It Happens,” explaining that his son was fortunately not present to witness the accident.
The father-son duo frequented the park often and enjoyed the Goliath ride, having disembarked only moments before the tragic occurrence. Mendenhall recounted the harrowing moment when he saw the man ejected from the roller-coaster car, hoping for a different outcome.
Following the incident, Mendenhall described trying to process the shocking event and maintain composure while ensuring his son’s well-being. He emphasized the importance of not placing blame on park employees and expressed a desire for the investigation to reveal the true cause of the accident, hoping it was an unforeseeable mishap.