A high school prank gone wrong has ended with students in jail and a teacher dead.
On Friday night, a group of five high school students from North Hall High School in Gainesville, Georgia, drove to their teacher’s house to toilet paper his yard for a harmless prank.
The teacher, Jason Hughes, reportedly wanted to catch the students in the act and surprise them. When Hughes started running toward the students, he tripped and fell, according to an emailed news release from the Hall County Sheriff’s Office.
The students, who ran away, had gotten into two different cars when Hughes fell. An 18-year-old student who was driving one of the cars then allegedly ran over Hughes around 11:40 p.m.
The teenagers stopped and administered aid to Hughes. Medics arrived, and Hughes was taken to the hospital, where the 40-year-old was pronounced dead.
The 18-year-old driver of the car that hit Hughes has been charged with homicide by vehicle in the first degree and reckless driving. He and the four other students, all also 18, were also charged with criminal trespassing and littering on private property. They were all arrested Friday night on the scene and have been released on bond, according to The New York Times.
Hughes’ wife, Laura Hughes, told the Times that she wants all charges against the students dropped.
“This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students,” she said. “This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.”
Discussing the prank, she said her husband “was excited and waiting to catch them in the act.”
The sheriff’s office had no comment regarding Laura Hughes’ request that the charges be dropped.
Will Schofield, the superintendent of the Hall County School District, told HuffPost that grief crisis teams have been set up at North Hall High School, and that students led a memorial Monday morning for Hughes.
“Our hearts are broken,” Schofield said. “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 as he faithfully served God. Our hearts and prayers go out to his wife and family.”
