Q100 Free Six Flags Party: Ditch Day Turns Chaotic Shuts Down I20 East

Thousands of young people and families piled into their cars as early as 3:00 am in an attempt to reach Six Flags Over Georgia for free entry Thursday morning, April 5, 2007. Local Atlanta Pop/Rock/Hip-Hop radio station Q100 sponsored "Ditch Day," which promised free entry into the popular amusement park between the hours of six and nine a.m. The Six Flags event was a promotional party held by the popular radio station. It coincided with Spring Break in several Metro-Atlanta counties.

Anticipation has been high all week, but no one expected the chaos that ensued by 5 a.m. Thursday morning. Q100 morning show host, Bert Weiss, reported that he was still sitting in traffic on Interstate 20 at 5:30. He left his house at 4:30 a.m. He did make it to the park by about 6:30 using the employee entrance. Bert's big appearance at 7:30, will be to kiss a 70 year-old lady to kiss her for 60 seconds. Frieda, the 70 year old woman had boldly announced that the last time she made out with a man was 2 days ago. Somehow, Freida, known to Q100 as "Freaky, fine Frieda" was able to make it to the park. She didn't drive her Harley. Q100 brought her and several of her friends in on a Hummer Limo.

Cobb police patrolled Six Flags Road and I20, giving out tickets to cars in line, but Six Flag capacity was reached by 5:52. Early estimates were that 10,000 people were allowed into the park, but as cars packed with young people continued to pile into the park estimates reached 15,000 before 7 a.m. Q100 described the mob scene as looking like Six Flags on a given summer day, after 10 a.m. The irony is that the park was this packed by five in the morning.

The rush to the park effectively shut down I20 East. Commuters reported road rage, although no harmful incidents have been reported. Traffic on I20 East and surrounding access roads was at a stand still. Drivers trapped on I20 began to back up on the freeway, and turn around and drive in the wrong direction on the emergency lanes and shoulders creating dangerous driving situations. By 7:00a.m. two wrecks had already been reported. Around 7:00 a five car pile-up was reported on I20 West. On I20 West, traffic was backed up all the way into Atlanta, around the intersection of I75 and I20, in the area of Atlanta's Turner Field.

Q100 is thrilled with the turn-out. Their comment regarding the crowd and chaos, "We threw a big party. How did we know everyone in Atlanta would show up?" Unfortunately, everyone didn't show, because thousands are still being turned away. Q100 tried to reach people early, announcing that if you were leaving after six, that you would not get in the park. Nonetheless, parents even let their kids out of the car on I20 to try and get into the park.

The police had to shut down not only the access roads, but the park itself. There will be no more entrance into the park. Q100 message boards had messages from people who were traveling from as far as 7 hours away planning on reaching the park by 9 a.m. Many people are under the assumption that if they just reach the park by 9 a.m. they will get in. No one else will be admitted, regardless. The situation could become more chaotic as the day passes.

Meanwhile, inside the park, the pop radio station is holding live broadcasts and contests throughout the day. At 7:00 a.m. three contestants got on the Goliath roller coaster for a showdown. Hause, Debbie, and Kat are competing to attend Six Flags 40th Anniversary Dream Night with 19 of their friends. On Dream Night, the park will be closed to all but 1,000 people. Hause and Debbie are the initial contestants. Kat was to be a stand-by, but Q100, put her on the stand-up roller coaster with the other two contestants.

Thousands of visitors who were headed to Six Flags, will now have to find other things to do in Atlanta today. Locals who got up early to head to the amusement park, turned around and went back home. This remarkable turn-out at the Q100 "Ditch Day" at Six Flags was unpredictable, and a boon for the local radio station. It is a nightmare for I20 commuters trying to make their way into Atlanta for work.

Sources:
Live Broadcast on Q100, Thursday, April 5, 2007
WSB Channel 2 News Broadcast, Thursday, April 5, 2007
Personal Interviews with commuters.