High school teacher dies in freak accident after students' prank went wrong
A teacher died in a freak accident after an initially harmless prank by five 18-year-old students went disastrously wrong.
Jason Hughes, 40, who taught at North Hall High School in Gainesville, Georgia, died just outside his home on Thursday (5 March).
He was described by the Hall County School District as 'a loving husband, a devoted father, a passionate teacher, mentor, and coach who was loved and respected by students and colleagues'.
A group of five teens, including 18-year-old Jayden Ryan Wallace, who Metro reports are his students, did the classic prank of draping the trees on the teacher's property with toilet paper, the Hall County Sheriff's Office said, as reported by MailOnline.
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When Hall caught them in the act and pursued them, he tripped and fell. Wallace ran him over in their rush to get away.
Though Wallace and two others stopped to help Hughes until an ambulance arrived, it was too late. He died at Northeast Georgia Medical Center.
Wallace has been charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, reckless driving, criminal trespass, and littering on private property.
The four teens who were with him - Elijah Tate Owens, Aiden Hucks, Ana Katherine Luque, and Ariana Cruz - were charged with criminal trespass and littering.
Locals explained that the prank was part of a school tradition that's usually played on popular teachers in the lead-up to the spring break.
The New York Post reports that teachers' homes are worth two points in the 'prank war', according to last year’s rule set, and because both he and his partner worked at the school, it made his house a prime target.
Allegedly, students were said to lose points if they were 'caught' by the teacher.
Just days before Hughes' death, Hall County School District warned parents to be on the watch for students undertaking risky pranks around spring prom.
They said on Facebook: "In previous years, some pranks during prom season - sometimes referred to as Junior/Senior Wars - have gone too far, resulting in damage to property.
"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."
According to reports, Hughes leaves behind his partner Laura, who also taught at the same school, and his two children.
Since his tragic death, tributes from students and staff members alike have been pouring in for the teacher.
Shayden Maynor, one of his former students, told 11 Alive: 'If I ever had problems, I could always run and call to him, like if I have the financial questions, or if I just had some personal issues going on.
"We grieved together, we laughed, we made jokes, and it was just really bad for the community that we had lost somebody so special like that."
Olivia Williams, a sophomore at the school, told Atlanta News First: "He always tried to make conversations with students, and he always just tried to be the most supportive he could.
"He would show up to events that he didn’t even know anything about just to be supportive, and that’s going to be a really big thing that’s going to be missed."
Madison Burgess