Four days after a freak roller-coaster accident claimed a man’s life at Six Flags Over Georgia, a somber mood lingered over the popular amusement park.

Families visiting the park when it reopened Friday said the tragedy was impossible to ignore at a destination known as one of the South’s premier spots for thrill seekers.

Hassan Kariem, a 42-year-old father of two, died Monday while riding the Goliath coaster. Images from the incident appeared to show him leaving his seat and striking part of the ride’s structure.

Goliath, Georgia’s tallest roller coaster at more than 200 feet, stretches across much of the Six Flags property. The attraction remains closed indefinitely while authorities investigate Kariem’s death.

The accident cast a pall over Friday’s Halloween-themed “Fright Fest” reopening. Several rides that are typically busy had little or no wait, while large portions of the park appeared quiet. Some families said they attended only after Six Flags declined to refund their tickets.

“It’s definitely a little quieter than I would have thought,” park visitor Sarah told the Daily Mail.

“We maybe would not have come, but they didn’t give us a refund.”

“It gave me pause,” said Valerie Herring, who arrived at the park with her children.

“But ultimately, they wouldn’t refund us, so here we are,” Herring added.

Advance weekday tickets were advertised from $45, but standard admission rose to $72 after fees. Some customers paid as much as $250 per ticket for extras, including options to skip lines.

According to terms published on its website, Six Flags admissions are nonrefundable.

A Six Flags spokesperson told the Daily Mail that guests may “contact Guest Relations to discuss available refund options.”

Visitors who returned Friday said the incident had changed how they planned to spend the day.

“It changed our thoughts on going on some of the rides,” park guest Amanda Daniels said.

“We probably won’t go on any of the big coasters. I hope they find out exactly what happened.”

For the Halloween-themed re-opening, many of the attractions and products appeared to have been set up prior to Kariem’s passing, and many made references to death and gore.

Stores sold ‘blood bags’ filled with cocktails, and paid actors dressed up as blood-covered zombies and monsters.

While the details of Kariem’s death remain under investigation, witnesses on the roller coaster said he was forcefully thrown from the ride and he landed on the roof of a haunted house attraction.

Just days later, few tributes to Kariem or signs of the tragedy remain at the park, with only a bouquet of flowers left at the spot where Kariem died, a shadowy area tucked behind a restroom building.

Yet, while some customers said they feared for their safety on the rides, other die-hard adrenaline junkies said they were not put off.

Rochelle Falson, a self-described ‘daredevil,’ said she was riding on the Goliath roller coaster just moments before the tragic accident on Monday.

Falson said she is a dedicated Six Flags enthusiast who said the park is her ‘favorite place to be,’ and said she rides the Goliath ride ‘every day.’

Describing witnessing the moment the accident unfolded on Monday, Falson said the park became ‘chaos’ as passengers were left running and screaming from the Goliath ride.

‘I was there that day, [Kariem] was getting on the ride as we were getting off,’ she said.

‘That s*** was so crazy,’ she added, adding that her own children were left scrambling to safety. ‘It was sad.’

Despite the gravity of the incident, the roller coaster enthusiast said she still ‘loves’ the Goliath ride, and would have gotten back on with no hesitation if it had been opened again by Friday.

Father and son Matthew and Nathan Chaffin, wearing matching Six Flags t-shirts dedicated to The Cyclone ride at the park, said they brought flowers to pay tribute to Kariem at the attraction.

The father, Matthew, said his family are Six Flags enthusiasts who have ridden the Goliath over 10 times, and said he was stunned when he saw the news on Monday.

‘It’s a tragedy, it’s terrible,’ he said. ‘We want to know what the cause of this awful situation is.’

But he said the death on Monday did not deter him from bringing his family to the park, and said ‘the travel here is probably more dangerous.’

‘Everybody knows you take a risk if you ride a big crazy machine.’

For some families, a trip up to the Six Flags Over Georgia park has been months in the making, and even the shock incident on Monday was not enough to stop them from making the journey.

Sheryl Berrian said some members of her family had traveled over 180 miles to join her and her four young children at the park on Friday.

Berrian said she does not like roller coasters personally, but said she trusted the park’s safety staff to keep her children safe on the rides.

‘I trust them, yes, especially today,’ the mother said.

Asked if she thought Six Flags’ decision to re-open the park with a Halloween ‘fright night’ event was insensitive, Berrian winced and said she ‘hadn’t thought about it like that.’

In a statement to the Daily Mail Saturday, a Six Flag spokesperson said: ‘We recognize that some guests may choose to postpone their visit at this time. While Goliath remains temporarily closed and the park continues to operate as scheduled, we want to be as accommodating as possible during this difficult period.

‘Guests who have not yet used their Six Flags Over Georgia ticket or season pass may contact Guest Relations to discuss available refund options. Guests who have already used their ticket or season pass remain subject to our standard policies.’

In a statement from the company after Kariem’s death, Six Flags park president Richard Pretlow said ahead of the re-opening: ‘We are deeply saddened by the recent incident at the park.

‘Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences remain with the individual involved, their family, friends and loved ones. We also continue to keep the guests and team members affected by this tragic event in our thoughts.

‘As efforts to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident continue, we remain focused on supporting those affected and maintaining the safe operation of our park and attractions. All other rides and attractions that were scheduled to operate will be available to guests, subject to normal operating conditions and availability.

‘The safety of our guests and team members remains our highest priority. We maintain rigorous inspection, maintenance and operational procedures that meet or exceed industry standards. Our attractions undergo daily, weekly, monthly and annual inspections, and our team members receive extensive training to safely operate and maintain our rides.’

The ongoing investigation into Kariem’s death is being led by Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s Office, with the commission’s president saying they ‘owe it to the Kariem family, to everyone affected by this tragedy, and to the people of our great state to find out exactly what happened.’

Disturbing details emerged Friday in the case of a Chinese-American couple accused of raising 21 children inside their Southern California mansion as part of an alleged mass surrogacy operation.

Guojun Xuan, 66, and Silvia Zhang, 39, allegedly ran a “house of horrors” at their $4 million home in Arcadia, where prosecutors say the children were subjected to abuse.

During a bail hearing, Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney MacKenzie Teymouri said the couple concealed nearly two dozen children from the outside world and prevented them from seeing sunlight, according to the Los Angeles Times.

“They didn’t go to school outside the home. They didn’t go to playgrounds. They didn’t go to restaurants,” Teymouri said. “They lived in this home and witnessed violence in the kitchen, in the bathrooms, in the bedrooms, in the foyer.”

Authorities also discovered the cremated remains of a surrogate child that had been sent to the residence after dying in Florida, Teymouri said. She told the court that the couple never opened the box and appeared “indifferent” to what happened to the child, the Times reported.

Prosecutors said the children were expected to work almost around the clock while studying “math, Mandarin and English.” They were allegedly required to sit upright and pay attention or face beatings.

According to prosecutors, the children spent their days in “makeshift classrooms,” from early morning until evening.

“From sunup, to sundown, these children, whether they’re in a high chair or old enough to sit at a desk, sat in what can only be described as makeshift classrooms,” Teymouri said, according to the Times.

The children were kept indoors for so long that, after the Department of Children and Family Services took custody of them last year, they were reportedly “scared to go to the park because they hadn’t been outside,” Teymouri said.

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Prosecutors obtained video showing Xuan sweeping a flashlight across the beds of sleeping children and allegedly beating those who were awake. Teymouri said she had to mute footage because of the “constant screaming” of children in the background, which she attributed to repeated beatings.

Xuan faces charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, child abuse, accessory after the fact and five counts of dissuading a witness.

Zhang has been charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and accessory after the fact, as well as four counts of dissuading a witness.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Caroline Lugo ordered the couple held in lieu of $20 million bail, agreeing with prosecutors that they posed a flight risk.

Teymouri also said the couple helped their nanny, Chunmei Li, flee to China. Li had been charged with child abuse after allegedly hitting a child so severely that the child required hospitalization for bleeding on the brain.

Mitchell Krems, Xuan’s attorney, said his client had no prior criminal convictions. He blamed the alleged abuse on nannies and argued that the couple had become targets of anti-Chinese sentiment in the United States.

Krems further argued that Xuan should be released because his health had deteriorated in police custody. Xuan is undergoing leukemia treatment and has become permanently dependent on a wheelchair, his attorney said.

Zhang’s attorney argued that the high bail amount was unnecessary, pointing to what he described as the children’s luxurious living conditions.

“These kids, there was no cigarette burn marks. There was no cages. There was no dog collars. There was no abuse by belts. These kids were well nutritioned, they were getting education every day,” he said.

A man was fatally shot inside a New York City subway station Saturday afternoon, the NYPD confirmed to News Media.

The gunfire erupted shortly after noon at the 53rd Street and Seventh Avenue station in crowded Midtown Manhattan, according to police.

Hassen Pinchback, who was visiting from Orlando, Florida, told News Media that passengers began fleeing as soon as they heard the shots.

“It was like a stampede,” he said.

Pinchback said the shooting began when the train doors opened. “That’s when you heard pop pop pop,” he recalled. A female bystander was performing chest compressions on the wounded man before officers arrived, urging him to “Hang in there.”

Another witness from Washington state, who identified herself only by the last name Miller, said she and her daughter heard roughly five shots while seated in a subway car with its doors open. Her daughter stepped outside, and Miller said the gunman looked directly at her before continuing to fire.

“I just started praying. I’m a very strong Christian,” she said. “Jesus saved us. 100%.”

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Miller said her daughter signaled a conductor aboard another train to warn him about the shooter. The conductor then called 911.

The victim was taken to a hospital in critical condition, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The NYPD said the investigation remains active and no arrests have been announced.

PIX11 reported that the shooting followed an argument between the victim and the gunman.

Carrot Top has spoken publicly for the first time since his suicide attempt, expressing gratitude to fans and confirming that he plans to return to the Las Vegas stage.

The 61-year-old comedian, whose legal name is Scott Thompson, was hospitalized on September 18 after he was found unresponsive in the backyard of his Las Vegas home following an apparent prescription drug overdose.

Thompson was allegedly being pressured to pay $500,000 or face the release of a ‘sexually explicit recording’ before his reported suicide attempt.

In a statement shared on Instagram this Saturday, Thompson wrote: ‘I’m truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, support, prayers, and well wishes I’ve received over the past couple of weeks. Every message, text, and kind thought has meant more to me than you know.

‘While I haven’t been able to respond to everyone individually, please know that I’ve felt your love and appreciate each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for being there for me during this time. It truly means the world to me!’

The Instagram post also announced that Thompson is expected to perform on Monday, October 19, at the Luxor Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

The Daily Mail has contacted Thompson’s representative for additional comment.

Just over a week after the incident, reports said Thompson was making progress in his recovery after returning home and had been speaking with family and friends.

A source told TMZ that Thompson was ‘doing well’ and feeling considerably better while resting at his modern desert residence.

Last month, Thompson, known for his eccentric prop comedy and distinctive red hair, was reportedly found unconscious beside his pool after intentionally taking an overdose of prescription medication.

He had allegedly sent his manager a text saying ‘done’ and then stopped replying after learning about a report accusing him of sexual misconduct.

A police report reviewed by TMZ stated that Thompson’s manager spoke with him by phone on September 18. During the conversation, the comedian reportedly expressed concern that his Las Vegas residency could come to an end because of the negative article.

After the manager was unable to reach Thompson again, he contacted police. Officers found the comedian shortly before 4:30 p.m., and he was taken to hospital in critical condition.

His following three weeks of performances at the Luxor Hotel’s Atrium Showroom were cancelled while he continued recovering, according to TMZ.

TMZ also reported that a 911 caller said Thompson was ‘barely conscious’ when he was discovered at his home.

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A representative for the entertainer later told the publication that he was ‘awake’ and ‘breathing on his own.’

In July, Radar Online reported that Thompson was facing a lawsuit from former friend and singer Brian Evans, who accused him of sending an unsolicited sexually explicit video.

Then in September, a second accuser came forward to back Evans’ claims and share his own story, according to the outlet.

Thompson’s lawyer confirmed his suicide attempt in a court filing on September 20, and asked for ‘immediate protective relief’ to stop Evans from ‘exposing [Thompson] to ill repute, false allegations, and salacious materials,’ per Page Six.

The legal professional claimed Evans had been carrying out an extortion scheme over the aforementioned footage, threatening to release it if he wasn’t granted $500,000.

‘Evans demands immediate payment of significant sums and states that, absent immediate payment, a sexually explicit recording of Thompson will be filed in the public court file so that it may be obtained and disseminated by the press and other parties,’ the attorney wrote, according to Page Six.

Evans denied the accusations, telling the outlet he ‘never threatened – ever – to post any video anywhere in exchange for a settlement.’

He also insisted the video was deleted ‘a long time ago.’

Regarding Thompson’s suicide attempt, Evans said that he was ‘sorry that Scott apparently did something to hurt himself.’

‘I do not consider Scott to be a bad person… based on what I know – but he made a few decisions that were not good ones. That is not a reason to hurt himself,’ the music artist said before adding that he cannot be blamed for it.

Evans said, ‘Finally, it’s not my fault… that Scott did what he did. We don’t even actually know what he did. He survived and I am glad about that. 

‘Scott is still young and has a big life ahead of him. It’s not my intent to bring this guy down. It’s the opposite.

‘I never threatened – ever – to post any video anywhere in exchange for a settlement… The video they are discussing – as I made very clear – was deleted a long time ago in accordance with the prior settlement,’ Evans added.

Thompson’s rep Jami Schlicher told the Daily Mail: ‘A federal court recently declared Mr. Evans a “vexatious litigant” and described his filings as “serial” and “spurious.”‘

A mural honoring beloved Queens FDNY EMS Capt. Alison Russo, who was killed in a random stabbing attack, was unveiled Saturday afternoon.

More than 40 EMS and FDNY personnel joined Russo’s grieving relatives at 40-19 20th Ave. in Astoria, across from Fire Station 49. The gathering paid tribute to Russo, a 9/11 first responder who was fatally attacked by Peter Zisopoulos during her lunch break on Sept. 29, 2022.

Zisopoulos, 38, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced in 2025 to 25 years to life in prison.

The crowd applauded as artists Benny Guerra and Fernando Garcia unveiled the LED-lit mural depicting Russo, 61. Above her portrait, a banner reads: “Never Forgotten Forever a Hero.”

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“It’s amazing to have a supportive community. You know, the FDNY being here,” Russo’s brother, Craig Fuoco, told The Post. “It’s been a long four years, but she’ll never be forgotten.”

Building owner William “Zac” Zaccari said Russo was killed directly in front of the property, where Zisopoulos lived upstairs.

“We gotta do this so it becomes a memorial, but more of a celebration than [that],” Zaccari said. The mural was positioned to face Fire Station 49, he explained, so Russo would appear to smile at EMS workers as they drove their ambulances in and out of the station.