Hassan Kariem, a 42-year-old educator with Atlanta Public Schools, has been identified as the man who died Monday after being ejected from a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia.

The Cobb County Police Department formally confirmed Kariem’s identity Tuesday morning, following an initial investigation into the incident.

Kariem was riding the park’s Goliath roller coaster, a 200-foot-tall hypercoaster that reaches speeds of up to 70 mph, when witnesses reported seeing him ejected from the train. Emergency responders and park staff were called immediately. He died from injuries sustained in the fall.

His family remembered him as a passionate educator who cared deeply about his students and his city. Those close to him described a man invested in bringing families together and empowering youth across the Atlanta metropolitan area.

Cobb County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Lisa Cupid offered her condolences to the family in a public statement.

“I cannot imagine the horror the patrons and employees witnessed today, and my heart aches for the family who lost a loved one,” she said. “We are all grappling with how something so devastating could happen at a place that has given generations of families such happy memories.”

In the wake of the incident, Six Flags Entertainment Corp. temporarily closed nine similar roller coasters across six of its theme parks, citing the need for safety inspections. The Cobb County Police Department and state ride inspection officials are continuing to investigate the mechanical and restraint systems on the Goliath ride.