Family of teacher killed in prank gone wrong 'supports dropping charges'

Jason Hughes was a ‘well-known’ and well-loved teacher (Picture: Facebook)

The wife of a teacher who died when his students ran over him has called for charges against them to be dropped.

Jason Hughes,40,caught the teenagers as they threw toilet rolls over trees in front of his garden on Friday night.

The North Hall High School maths teacher went to chase them but slipped on the rain-soaked ground and fell over just as they were driving off.

A vehicle driven by Jayden Wallace,18,ran over him at about 11.40pm.

He was charged with first-degree vehicular homicide,criminal trespass,reckless driving and littering.

Four others the same age,Elijah Owens,Aiden Hucks,Ana Luque and Ariana Cruz were charged with criminal trespass and littering on private property.

They all stayed behind to help Hughes after seeing what had happened.

Jason’s wife Laura,who is also a teacher at the school,has now told the New York Times that he wasn’t going to confront them,but wanted to ‘catch them in the act’.

Jayden Wallace,was arrested and charged in connection with the death of Hughes (Picture: Hall County Sheriff’s Department)

Calling for the charges to be dropped,she 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.’

He leaves behind two sons (Picture: GoFundMe)

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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