Coaster Death

One person died Monday. Several others were hurt in the same roller coaster incident at Six Flags Over Georgia, police confirmed.

Witnesses told NBC affiliate WXIA they saw a man fall from the park's Goliath coaster, striking parts of the ride multiple times before he hit the ground, NBC News reported. "He fell and hit the car three different times," one witness said, according to both NBC News and Fox News.

The incident was reported shortly before 4 p.m. at the park in Austell, west of Atlanta, Cobb County Police Sgt. E.D. Smith said, according to NBC News, and detectives with the department's Major Crimes Unit are investigating, according to a statement from the Cobb County Police Department cited by ABC News.

Logan Conner was riding Goliath with his fiancee when he saw the man come loose from his seat, he told NBC News. "The man started levitating in the air sideways," Conner said. Another witness said the man had been riding with a child and that his blood landed on their ride vehicle, according to NBC News. A third witness told WXIA the man appeared in their souvenir photo as he fell. According to Fox News.

Goliath is a 200-foot hypercoaster that reaches speeds up to 70 mph, with a 170-foot initial drop, a second 175-foot drop and a 540-degree spiral that produces forces up to 4 Gs, according to the park's website, as cited by Fox News. The ride stopped mid-run. Video from the scene captured riders climbing out of stalled cars and walking down a staircase to the ground, Fox News and NBC News reported.

"We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today," a Six Flags spokesperson said in a statement carried by all three outlets. "Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the guest's family, friends, and loved ones." "We are also providing support to the guests and team members affected," the spokesperson added.

The spokesperson said Six Flags would not release further details "out of respect for the family's privacy." Park staff and local authorities responded immediately, the company said, and Six Flags is cooperating fully with local authorities as they complete their investigation.

The Cobb County Department of Emergency Communications confirmed the death but could not immediately provide further details, according to NBC News.

"We made direct eye contact with him," Conner said.