A Georgia high school teacher is dead after a group of teenagers rolled his yard with toilet paper late Friday night.
The prank turned fatal when the teacher reportedly tripped and fell in front of a truck as the teens fled.
According to reports, Jason Hughes, 40, a math teacher and golf coach at North Hall High School in Gainesville, Georgia confronted the group on his property, and five teens scrambled into two vehicles and began driving away. As 18-year-old Jayden Ryan Wallace pulled out in his pickup truck, Hughes tripped and fell into the road and was run over and killed.
Wallace was charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, reckless driving, criminal trespass, and littering on private property. Local news says four other teens — Elijah Tate Owens, Aiden Hucks, Ana Katherine Luque, and Ariana Cruz, all 18 — were charged with criminal trespass and littering. All five remained at the scene and attempted to aid to their teacher while an ambulance was dispatched.
Hughes’ wife, Laura — also a math teacher at North Hall High — said her husband had no ill intent when he went outside. In a statement, she said he knew the teens were coming, was excited and waiting to catch them in the act. She called for the charges to be dropped.
“We are thankful for the outpouring of prayers and support as we grieve the loss of Jason. We ask that you continue to pray for our family and also for the students involved in the accident along with their families. Please join us in extending grace and mercy to them as Christ has done for us.”
“This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students,” Laura Hughes said. “This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.”
The Hall County School District mourned the accident in a statement.
“Our hearts are broken. Jason Hughes was a loving husband, a devoted father; a passionate teacher, mentor, and coach who was loved and respected by students and colleagues. He gave so much to so many in numerous ways,” the statement read. “Our hearts and prayers go out to his wife and family.”
Hughes is survived by wife Laura and their two young sons.