Georgia high school teacher dies after teen prank goes wrong

A Georgia high school teacher died after he was allegedly run over by a teen in an apparent prank gone awry, police said.

Jayden Ryan Wallace, 18, has been charged with first-degree vehicular homicide after he allegedly ran over Jason Hughes outside Hughes’ home in Gainesville, Georgia, on Friday, March 6, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release shared with USA TODAY.

Hughes, 40, died after being transported to an area hospital, police said.

According to police, after 11 p.m. local time on March 6, Wallace and four other 18-year-olds — Elijah Tate Owens, Aiden Hucks, Ana Katherine Luque and Ariana Cruz — rolled trees outside Hughes’ home with toilet paper.

As the group got into two vehicles to leave, Hughes came out of the home, but tripped and fell into the road. Wallace, who was driving a pickup truck, then allegedly ran over Hughes.

The teens stopped and attempted to render aid before help responded, the release said.

All five teens have been charged with criminal trespassing and littering on private property. Wallace has also been charged with reckless driving, according to police. It’s unclear whether he has retained an attorney.

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Victim was high school math teacher and coach

Will Schofield, the superintendent of Hall County Schools, confirmed in a statement that Hughes was a teacher in the district.

“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,” Schofield said. “He gave so much to so many in numerous ways as he faithfully served God. Our hearts and prayers go out to his wife and family.”

Hughes was a math teacher and golf coach at North Hall High School in Gainesville, according to a district teacher site and a profile from North Hall High School’s marketing class.

“I love investing in the next generation and having an influence on them,” Hughes said in the profile.

He was also involved with NG3, a nonprofit organization focused on mentoring students. The organization paid tribute to Hughes on Facebook, writing, “The way he invested in his family, his community, and the next generation has changed the trajectory of so many.”

His wife, Laura Hughes, is also a math teacher at the high school, and the couple has two children.

A GoFundMe page for the Hughes family has raised more than $191,000 as of March 9.

“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 fundraising page says.

School district had cautioned students against pranks before teacher’s death

In a Facebook post the day before Hughes’ death, the Hall County School District advised students not to partake in pranks during the prom season.

“In previous years, some pranks during prom season–sometimes referred to as Junior/Senior Wars– have gone too far, resulting in damage to property,” the post said. “We urge all students to refrain from participating in any activities that may cause harm or destruction to school or personal property. Such actions not only reflect poorly on the individual involved but also tarnish the reputation of our schools, families, and community.”

The post also mentioned “serious consequences that can arise from engaging in destructive behavior,” including criminal charges.

“We cannot stress enough the importance of making responsible choices and thinking about the long-term impact of your actions,” it added.

It is unclear whether Wallace, Owens, Hucks, Luque and Cruz are students at the school.

Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com. 

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Georgia teacher dies after teen prank gone wrong