Horrified witnesses recount fatal rollercoaster incident at Six Flags

One person has died and several others were injured after an incident on a rollercoaster at an amusement park in the state of Georgia.

The Cobb County Police Department said it was investigating the fatality at Six Flags Over Georgia, about 15 miles (24km) from Atlanta, according to the BBC's news partner CBS News.

Police did not specify which ride was involved, but aerial footage from news helicopters showed the Goliath rollercoaster stopped midway, with riders being helped off by workers.

Six Flags Over Georgia said it was "deeply saddened" by the incident and later announced it was temporarily closing nine rides across the US and Canada out of precaution.

Officials have not said how the person died, or how the other riders were injured. The BBC has contacted local police and fire authorities, as well as park officials.

The identity of the person who died has also not been disclosed.

Witnesses told local media they saw a man ejected from the ride - an account of events that the BBC has not verified.

Local outlet 11 Alive quoted a witness saying the man had come loose from his seat and had then struck the rollercoaster and some of his fellow riders before falling onto the roof of a nearby haunted house attraction.

The incident was captured in souvenir photos that were automatically taken of the rollercoaster while it was in motion, the witness added.

A husband and wife, who were on the ride, also told 11 Alive that the man fell from the ride and was struck by it. They said workers at the park had checked their safety harnesses before the ride set off.

"We were having a great time and to just screaming 'Oh my God, what is happening?'," the woman said.