Family of teacher killed in prank gone wrong ‘supports dropping charges’
A math teacher died after his students ran him over while carrying out a prank outside his house in Gainesville, Georgia.
Jason Hughes, 40, knew in advance that teens were going to hurl toilet roll over the trees in his front garden when he stepped outside on Friday night.
But the North Hall High School teacher slipped on the rain-drenched ground and fell into the street just as the teens were driving off.
One of the two getaway vehicles, driven by 18-year-old Jayden Ryan Wallace, ran over Hughes at about 11.40pm.
The group, which included 18-year-olds Elijah Tate Owens, Aiden Hucks, Ana Katherine Luque, and Ariana Cruz, stayed behind to help Hughes
Wallace has been charged with felony first-degree vehicular homicide and charges of criminal trespass, reckless driving and littering.
The four other teenagers have been charged with misdemeanour charges of criminal trespass and littering on private property.
Hughes’ wife, Laura, told The New York Times that he wasn’t going to confront the teens but instead wanted to exicdelt ‘catch them in the act’.
She added that the family ‘supports getting the charges dropped for all involved’.
Laura, also a teacher at North Hall High School, said: ‘This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students.
‘This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.’
County District Attorney Lee Darragh, who will decide whether to prosecute the teens, told the Associated Press he ‘does not have enough information’ on the case to comment.
Teacher was ‘a great guy all the way around’, says former pupil
Hughes, a father of two and golf coach, had worked at Hall County Public Schools for more than eight years.
Students remembered him as a ‘well-known guy’ who was always there for them.
Shayden Maynor, a former student of Hughes’, told WANF: ‘He’s helped me through some pretty hard times, too, and he was just a great guy all the way around. It’s a very sad tragedy of what our community has lost.’
School district officials said Hughes was a ‘loving husband, a devoted father, a passionate teacher, mentor, and coach’.
They added: ‘He gave so much to so many in numerous ways. Our hearts and prayers go out to his wife and family.’
A GoFundMe raising money for Hughes’ children’s college fees has already raised more than $411,000.
The teens had driven to Hughes’ home on North Gate Drive to TP his yard, also known as ‘rolling,’ deputies told the local news outlet 11 Alive.
Just a day before the prank-gone-wrong, school officials warned parents and pupils that pranks during prom season often go ‘too far’.
These ‘destructive’ pranks are sometimes known as ‘Junior/Senior Wars’, according to the district’s Facebook post last Thursday.
They added: ‘Damaging property can lead to criminal charges, not to mention the potential repercussions on your participation in graduation ceremonies and other special events planned for this time of year.
‘We cannot stress enough the importance of making responsible choices and thinking about the long-term impact of your actions.’
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