The family of a teacher in Georgia who tragically died after a ‘prank’ went horribly wrong have spoken out.
Jason Hughes, a maths teacher at North Hall High School in Hall County, died on Friday (March 6) after an incident involving five students escalated into a fatal accident.
According to reports, the teenagers went to Hughes’ home in Gainesville and covered parts of the property in toilet paper — despite prior warnings from the school following prom that similar stunts had already gone “too far”.
Hughes came outside as the group tried to leave. Jayden Ryan Wallace, 18, was driving the pickup truck as the students fled. Hughes then tripped and fell into the roadway, where he was struck by the vehicle.
Wallace and the others reportedly got out to help while waiting for emergency crews to arrive. Hughes was transported to hospital, but later died from his injuries.
In the days since, Hughes’ wife, Laura Hughes, has shared a message from the family, speaking to AccessWDUN. She said: “Our family wants to thank the Hall County community for the outpouring of prayers and support and the respect for our privacy 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.”
Laura also issued a separate statement in which she said her husband had a positive relationship with the teens and was reportedly “excited and waiting to catch them in the act”.
She added that her family “supports getting the charges dropped for all involved”, saying: “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.”
An arrest warrant obtained by People states that Wallace, along with Elijah Tate Owens, 18, Aiden Hucks, 18, Ana Katherine Luque, 18, and Ariana Cruz, 18, were detained at the scene.
Owens, Hucks, Luque and Cruz are facing charges of criminal trespass and littering on private property. Wallace has been charged with first-degree vehicular homicide and reckless driving in connection with Hughes’ death.
A GoFundMe has also been created in Hughes’ memory, with the organiser saying donations will “assist his family with immediate expenses and a future college fund for his children”.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact GrieveWell on (734) 975-0238, or email [email protected].