A YouTuber's vlog showed lap bars sitting nearly fully open on Kings Dominion's Grizzly. Six Flags says it believes the clip was filmed in August, before October's fatal Goliath incident, and that it's conducting a review.
Six Flags says it's reviewing a video posted by a roller coaster YouTuber that appears to show him and another rider on Grizzly at Kings Dominion with their lap bars nearly fully open.
Six Flags told Entertainment Weekly on Tuesday, Nov. 10, that it believes the video was filmed in August 2026. That's about two months before a rider died on Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia on Oct. 12.
"The safety of our guests and team members is our highest priority," the company said in its statement to EW. Six Flags said it is aware of the video circulating online and is "conducting a thorough review."
What does the Kings Dominion video show?
The video comes from Marc Engel, who posts as CoasterDash on YouTube. EW reported that he shared a vlog on Monday, Nov. 9, that included a ride on Grizzly, the 44-year-old wooden coaster at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Va.
The video was taken down, but here is what happened according to reports,
In the clip, the camera pans down to show both restraint bars in the car sitting nearly fully upright, above the riders' fastened seat belts, EW reported. "Guys, are we serious? Why?" Engel says. His riding partner then jokes about the ride operator.
After the ride, Engel called it the "best ride I've ever had on Grizzly." He said the ride operators gave them the most room he'd ever had on any coaster.
EW said that portion of the video appears to have been edited out of the full vlog since it posted. EW viewed the original version. The outlet said it reached out to Engel for comment. As of Tuesday night, no response had been published.
EW did not report any injuries from the ride.
What has Six Flags said about the video?
Only the short statement to EW so far. Six Flags said safety is its highest priority, that it believes the video was filmed in August and that a thorough review is underway. It did not say whether any ride operators were disciplined, whether Grizzly's procedures have changed or whether it has contacted Engel.
Kings Dominion became part of Six Flags when Cedar Fair and Six Flags merged in 2024.
What is Grizzly at Kings Dominion?
Grizzly opened March 27, 1982. It's a wooden coaster designed by Curtis D. Summers and modeled on the Wildcat at Cincinnati's old Coney Island park, which was torn down in 1964.
Height: 87 feet
Top speed: 51 mph
Track length: 3,162 feet
Height requirement: 48 inches, per Kings Dominion
Trains: two trains of seven cars, 28 riders each
The ride's first drop was steepened from 45 to 55 degrees during a 2022 to 2023 refurbishment.
Why are Six Flags restraints under scrutiny?
The video landed one month after Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, 42, of Atlanta, was ejected from his seat on Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia on Oct. 12 and died, the Associated Press reported. State and local officials are still investigating.
Six Flags then [closed nine coasters with similar restraints](https://news.piratesandprincesses.net/p/six-flags-closes-9-coasters-at-6) at parks in Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio and Ontario. All nine were built by Bolliger & Mabillard and use a clamshell-style lap bar. SeaWorld Orlando and La Ronde in Montreal each closed a similar ride for a time.
On Oct. 23, Six Flags CEO John Reilly said the company would [add seat belts to Goliath](https://news.piratesandprincesses.net/p/six-flags-will-add-seat-belts-to) and other coasters with similar restraints. A spokesperson said affected rides won't reopen until their work and reviews are complete, Fast Company reported.
Grizzly isn't one of the closed rides. It's a different type of coaster from a different builder, and the riders in Engel's video were already wearing seat belts.
Six Flags is also facing lawsuits over Magic Mountain's [X2 coaster](https://news.piratesandprincesses.net/p/six-flags-sued-over-another-x2-brain), which it has permanently closed. Records reviewed by CNN last month [detailed past ride failures and injuries](https://news.piratesandprincesses.net/p/six-flags-safety-records-reportedly) at Six Flags parks.
What happens next?
Six Flags hasn't said how long its review will take or whether it will share the results. It also hasn't issued any new guidance for riders tied to this video.
We'll update this story if Six Flags shares the results of its review or Engel responds.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
Entertainment Weekly (Nov. 10, 2026), the CoasterDash video, Engel's comments and Six Flags' statement
Associated Press via ClickOnDetroit (Oct. 24, 2026), the Goliath death, closed coasters and seat belt plan
Fast Company (Oct. 27, 2026), the Six Flags spokesperson's reopening statement
Kings Dominion (2026), Grizzly's height requirement and opening year
Wikipedia (accessed Nov. 10, 2026), Grizzly's designer, stats and refurbishment
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