Prank Results in Teacher’s Death, Homicide Charge
The widow of a Georgia teacher who was fatally struck by a student’s truck during a late-night prank at his home is asking prosecutors to drop the charges.
Authorities say five teenagers from North Hall High School went to teacher Jason Hughes’ home in Gainesville shortly before midnight Friday to throw toilet paper in his yard. According to Hughes’ widow, the 40-year-old teacher was aware of the prank and planned to surprise the students.
But the situation turned tragic when Hughes slipped on wet ground and fell into the street as the students hurried back to their vehicles, according to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators say he was then struck and killed by a pickup truck driven by 18-year-old Jayden Ryan Wallace, the New York Times reported.
The prank was tied to an annual “junior/senior war,” a school tradition in which students earn points for targeting teachers’ homes with pranks but lose points if they are caught, according to the New York Post. Earlier Friday, the Hall County School District had urged students to end the tradition, saying past incidents had gone too far and caused property damage.
Wallace, who authorities say stopped and attempted to help Hughes after the crash, has been charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, reckless driving, criminal trespass, and littering. The four other 18-year-olds involved face misdemeanor charges of trespass and littering. All five have been released on bond.
In a statement, Hughes’ widow, Laura Hughes—also a teacher at North Hall High School—said her husband and the students “loved one another” and asked prosecutors to drop the charges, saying she does not want the “terrible tragedy” to ruin the students’ lives. If convicted on the most serious charge, Wallace could face up to 15 years in prison.
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