A Georgia teacher who was accidentally run over and killed after a prank involving toilet paper is being remembered as a devoted mentor, while his widow has asked for charges against the teenagers involved to be dropped.
Jason Hughes, 40, a maths instructor and athletics coach at North Hall High School in Gainesville, died after a group of five teenagers went to his home on the night of 6 March to cover his trees with toilet paper, a practice known as rolling.
According to the Hall County Sheriff's Office, the group tried to leave in two cars when Hughes emerged from his home. He tripped, fell into the road and was inadvertently run over by one of the vehicles. The driver, 18-year-old Jayden Ryan Wallace, and two others stopped to help, but Hughes died later in hospital.
Wallace has been arrested on charges including first-degree vehicular homicide, reckless driving, criminal trespass and littering. The four other teenagers were arrested on allegations of criminal trespass and littering. All five have been released on bond pending the outcome of the case.
In a statement reported by The New York Times, Hughes's widow, Laura, said her family supported getting the charges dropped for all involved. She described the incident as a terrible tragedy and said prosecuting the students would ruin their lives, adding: 'This would be counter to Jason's lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.'
Tributes have been paid by colleagues and students. The Hall County school district said Hughes was remembered as 'a passionate teacher, mentor and coach who was loved and respected'. He also served as an academic coach for the school's football programme, led bible studies for coaching staff and took part in a student mentoring scheme.
