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Family of Goliath rider Hassan Kariem moves his Islamic funeral to Monday in Atlanta
The family of the man killed on Six Flags Over Georgia's Goliath says cemetery timing pushed his Janazah from Sunday to Monday afternoon in Atlanta.
The burial of the man who died after he fell from a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia has been pushed back by one day.
A new date
Relatives of Hassan Kariem first said his Janazah, the Islamic funeral prayer, would be held Sunday at 2 PM in Atlanta. Later on Friday they said the cemetery had called about scheduling.
The service will now take place Monday, Oct. 19, at 2 PM in Atlanta.
Why the timing matters
Kariem was Muslim. His family says his faith calls for burial within three days after a mortuary receives the body. The coroner released him to relatives on Thursday.
What happened on Goliath
Kariem had gone to the park with his girlfriend along with members of her family. While riding Goliath he somehow came free of his restraint and was thrown from the coaster. Investigators say he struck the track several times as he fell before he came to rest under the ride.
Officials have not said what caused the accident. A former park worker has said that a rider using enough force could in theory push the arm restraint open.
Kariem worked as an educator. Only weeks earlier he had escaped a car fire.
No word from the park
The family says nobody from Six Flags has reached out to them. They have not hired a lawyer.
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