Five teenagers in Gainesville, Georgia, were charged after a teacher was killed in a prank that went wrong. One 18-year-old was charged with first-degree vehicular homicide for allegedly running over the teacher in his pickup truck.
A teacher was killed in a prank gone wrong
Law enforcement arrived at the 4400 block of North Gate Drive around 11:40 p.m. on Friday. They had received calls that Jason Hughes, a 40-year-old teacher at North Hall High School, had been run over by a vehicle, according to 11 Alive. He was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where he died.
Jayden Ryan Wallace, who’s 18, and four other teens the same age went to the teacher’s house to prank Hughes that night. They rolled toilet paper around Hughes’ trees. And when he came out of his home, the group got into two vehicles to leave the scene. Hughes then reportedly tripped and fell on the road and was run over by Wallace’s pickup truck. The teens stopped and tried to administer first aid, according to law enforcement, as reported by The New York Times.
All five teens were arrested and charged with criminal trespass and littering on private property. Wallace was also charged with first-degree vehicular homicide and reckless driving. They were all released on bond on Sunday.
The community is in mourning after Jason Hughes’ death
The Hall County School District released a statement in memory of Hughes’ life, according to 11Alive.
“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,” it read. “He gave so much to so many in numerous ways. Our hearts and prayers go out to his wife and family. We ask that the media and the public respect their privacy as they grieve this incredible loss.”
Hughes was also part of the organization NG3, which stands for Next Generation: Character, Community, and Change. It offers students character development, community service opportunities and mentoring in high schools. Hughes had been the North Hall High School director for nearly eight years.
“If I ever had any problems, I could always run and call to him, like if I have like financial questions, or if I just had some personal issues going on,” Shayden Maynor, a former student who recently graduated and had Hughes as a math teacher, told 11Alive.
Olivia Williams, a sophomore at the high school, said Hughes was a main fixture of the community.
“I think he was connected through a lot of people, and I think it’s taken a toll on a lot of the community because he was very, very big in the community,” she told 11 Alive. “He was very social with people and always at events, and he was always just cheering people on, no matter what the event was.”
Reaching nearly $220,000 so far, an online fundraiser was created to support Hughes’ family expenses and fund his children’s college education.
“Jason’s life was a blessing to so many, and his untimely passing will be indescribably difficult for his wife and two young boys for years to come,” the GoFundMe page reads. “Please use this opportunity to come alongside them in their time of immediate need and future planning for his children.”
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