18-year-old student charged after North Hall High School teacher dies during prank, deputies say

Deputies say 18-year-old Jayden Ryan Wallace and four other people went to the North Gate Drive location and “rolled” the victim’s trees with toilet paper.

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GAINESVILLE, Ga. — An 18-year-old student is under arrest after a prank led to a North Hall High School teacher losing his life on Friday night, according to a statement released by the Hall County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies say around 11:40 p.m. on Mar. 6, they arrived at the 4400 block of North Gate Drive after receiving calls that 40-year-old Jason Hughes, a teacher at North Hall High School, had been run over by a vehicle.

Detectives began the investigation, and according to initial details, 18-year-old Jayden Ryan Wallace and four other people went to the North Gate Drive location and “rolled” Hughes’ trees with toilet paper. Officials say Hughes came out of the home, prompting the group to get into two vehicles to leave.

Investigations reveal that as Wallace began driving his pickup truck, Hughes tripped and fell into the road and was run over by the vehicle. Wallace and two other individuals stopped and attempted to render aid until emergency services arrived.

Hall County Fire and Rescue took Hughes to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where he later died.

Wallace was arrested and charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, reckless driving, criminal trespass, and littering on private property.

Deputies also arrested the other four individuals and charged them each with criminal trespass and littering on private property. Officials say they are all 18-year-old residents of Gainesville.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Hall County School District described Hughes as a “loving husband” and “a devoted father.”

“Our hearts are broken. 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.”

Outside the school, there is a memorial with flowers in Hughes’ honor.

Sophomore Olivia Williams stopped by Saturday evening to pay her respects to Hughes, a man she said was much more than a teacher.

“I think he was connected through a lot of people, and I think it’s taken a toll on a lot of the community because he was very, very big in the community,” she said. “He was very social with people and always at events, and he was always just cheering people on, no matter what the event was.”

Deputies say 18-year-old Jayden Ryan Wallace and four other people went to the North Gate Drive location and “rolled” the victim’s trees with toilet paper.

Williams didn’t have Hughes as a teacher, but does have his wife as her math teacher.

Shayden Maynor graduated a few years ago, but continued to keep in touch with his former math teacher.

“If I ever had any problems, I could always run and call to him, like if I have like financial questions, or if I just had some personal issues going on,” Maynor said.

Maynor said Hughes would always be there for his students. Maynor returned to North Hall High School on Saturday for an inside gathering.

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

Hughes was also involved with the organization NG3, which means “Next Generation: Character, Community, and Change.” The organization offers character development, community service opportunities, and small-group mentoring in high schools, with the goal of impacting students through faith-based, relationally driven small-group mentoring.

Hughes was the North Hall High School director for almost 8 years, according to NG3 President Matt Williams.

“Jason was an amazing man who loved his family, community, and Jesus really well,” Williams told 11Alive in a statement. “His investment in the next generation will echo for a long time. I have no doubt future families will be different because Jason impacted and loved them so well. He invested more in his 40 years than most do in a lifetime. The North Hall community, school, and our organization will forever be changed because of him. To say he will be missed is a severe understatement.”

An online fundraiser was created for Hughes’ family, and it has already raised more than $181,000. If you would like to donate, you can visit the link here.

“Jason’s life was a blessing to so many, and his untimely passing will be indescribably difficult for his wife and two young boys for years to come,” the organizer of the fundraiser said. “Please use this opportunity to come alongside them in their time of immediate need and future planning for his children.”

This incident remains under investigation. Stay with 11Alive as we continue to learn more.