Prank Goes Wrong Kills Georgia Teacher

A Gainesville, Georgia, teacher died during a toilet paper prank when he was run over by a vehicle, according to authorities.

Prank Gone Wrong

Hall County Sheriff officials say teacher Jason Hughes, 40, saw teenagers TP-ing his trees, and when he went outside to confront the group, they jumped into two vehicles, abandoning the prank. Hughes tripped and fell into the road as the vehicles drove away and ran him over.

The teens stopped and attempted to give the teacher aid when deputies arrived at the scene at 11:40 p.m. The fire department transported Hughes to the hospital, where he died, according to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office.

Jayden Ryan Wallace, Aiden Hucks, Elijah Tate Owens, Ana Katherine Luque, and Ariana Cruz were arrested at the scene. All four teenagers were charged with criminal trespassing and littering on private property.

Additionally, Wallace was charged with first-degree vehicular homicide and reckless driving.

Hughes Will Be Missed

Hall County School District Superintendent Will Schofield said the district is heartbroken over the loss and is praying for his family.

“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 in a statement.

Hughes was also the North Hall school director of NG3, an organization focused on developing “character in high school students” through mentorship and community service.

His profile on the NG3 website says he taught in Gwinnett for 10 years before moving his family to Gainesville, Georgia. Both he and his wife, Laura, teach math at North Hall High School and “immersing ourselves in the North Hall community.”

NG3 posted on Facebook that Hughes was on staff for seven years and was “a vital piece of helping grow this ministry beyond the boundaries of just this community.” The post added that his hard work and kindness were inspirational and had an impact on those around him.

“The way he invested in his family, his community, and the next generation has changed the trajectory of so many.”

Former North Hall Student Shayden Maynor told NBC affiliate WXIA of Atlanta that he could reach out to Hughes for questions or advice on personal issues even after graduating. Maynor joined others in paying their respects at North Hall High School on Saturday.

Maynor said, “We grieved together, we laughed, we made jokes, and it was just really bad for the community that we have lost somebody so special like that.”

Sources:

NewsNation: Georgia teacher dies in toilet paper prank gone wrong, police say
11Alive.com: 18-year-old student charged after North Hall High School teacher dies during prank, deputies say
WSB-TV: Hall County teacher killed after confronting teens accused of TP-ing his home, deputies say

Featured Image Courtesy of WHardcastle’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License