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A beloved Georgia teacher is dead after what started as a high school prank took a devastating and deadly turn. Authorities said Jason Hughes, a 40-year-old teacher at North Hall High School in Gainesville, died after being run over by a truck, driven by an 18-year-old. WXIA reports a group of five teens were toilet papering trees outside Hughes’ home on the night of March 6. Hall County sheriff’s deputies said Hughes was run over after he tripped and fell into the road as the teens were driving away from the scene. Authorities told the outlet the teens tried to help Hughes before first responders arrived. Hughes was a father of two young boys.People reports Jayden Ryan Wallace, 18, was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree vehicular homicide and reckless driving in connection with the teacher’s death. He and the four other teens: Elijah Tate Owens, 18, Aiden Hucks, 18, Ana Katherine Luque, 18, and Ariana Cruz, 18, have also been charged with criminal trespass and littering on private property.Hughes’ widow Laura Hughes, who is also a teacher at the school, told the New York Times her husband knew the teens were coming and was not going outside to confront the students; saying he “was excited and waiting to catch them in the act.”Laura Hughes added she and her family would support seeing “the charges dropped for all involved.”“This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students,” Laura Hughes told the paper. “This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.”A makeshift memorial to Hughes has formed outside North Hall High School. “Our hearts are broken,” the Hall County School District said in a statement to WXIA. “Jason Hughes was a loving husband, a devoted father, a passionate teacher, mentor, and coach who was loved and respected by students and colleagues. 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.””He always just had the best attitude and he was so helpful with students and whenever someone was like feeling down he would always be there for them,” North Hall High School Sophomore Olivia Williams told WANF.A GoFundMe has been launched to support the Hughes family.
A beloved Georgia teacher is dead after what started as a high school prank took a devastating and deadly turn.
Authorities said Jason Hughes, a 40-year-old teacher at North Hall High School in Gainesville, died after being run over by a truck, driven by an 18-year-old.
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WXIA reports a group of five teens were toilet papering trees outside Hughes’ home on the night of March 6. Hall County sheriff’s deputies said Hughes was run over after he tripped and fell into the road as the teens were driving away from the scene. Authorities told the outlet the teens tried to help Hughes before first responders arrived.
Hughes was a father of two young boys.
People reports Jayden Ryan Wallace, 18, was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree vehicular homicide and reckless driving in connection with the teacher’s death. He and the four other teens: Elijah Tate Owens, 18, Aiden Hucks, 18, Ana Katherine Luque, 18, and Ariana Cruz, 18, have also been charged with criminal trespass and littering on private property.
Hughes’ widow Laura Hughes, who is also a teacher at the school, told the New York Times her husband knew the teens were coming and was not going outside to confront the students; saying he “was excited and waiting to catch them in the act.”
Laura Hughes added she and her family would support seeing “the charges dropped for all involved.”
“This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students,” Laura Hughes told the paper. “This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.”
A makeshift memorial to Hughes has formed outside North Hall High School.
“Our hearts are broken,” the Hall County School District said in a statement to WXIA. “Jason Hughes was a loving husband, a devoted father, a passionate teacher, mentor, and coach who was loved and respected by students and colleagues. 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.”
“He always just had the best attitude and he was so helpful with students and whenever someone was like feeling down he would always be there for them,” North Hall High School Sophomore Olivia Williams told WANF.
A GoFundMe has been launched to support the Hughes family.
