Wife of teacher killed in prank gone wrong wants charges against teens dropped ‘to prevent a separate tragedy’

The wife of the high school teacher killed in a horrific prank gone wrong is begging for all charges to be dropped against the students involved — saying her husband loved them and was “excited” to join them in the prank.

Five teenagers were arrested after teacher Jason Hughes, 40, was run over when he slipped and fell outside his home in Gainesville, Georgia, while chasing them for covering his front yard in toilet paper as part of a prank war that had been a school tradition for years.

The father of two wasn’t trying to angrily confront them but “was excited and waiting to catch them in the act,” his wife, Laura, told the New York Times.

Jason Hughes sits smiling at a table with a birthday cake.
Georgia teacher Jason Hughes was run over after he slipped and fell into a street while trying to confront teenagers who were playing a prank on him.Facebook / Cliff Cape

Mugshot of Jayden Wallace.
Student Jayden Wallace allegedly fatally ran over teacher Jason Hughes in a prank gone wrong.Hall County Sheriff’s Office
The family fully “supports getting the charges dropped for all involved,” the grieving widow said, saying her husband loved the students, who face up to 15 years in prison.

“This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students,” Laura, who is also a math teacher at the same high school, continued.
“This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.”

One of the teenagers, Jayden Wallace, 18, is facing up to 15 years behind bars after police charged him with vehicular homicide in the teacher’s death.

A house and a tree in front of it are covered in toilet paper at night.
Jason Hughes’ home is covered in toilet paper after teenagers played a prank on him.Instagram/nthjuniorseniorwars23
Hughes stepped outside around 11:40 p.m. Thursday and walked over to the cars that Wallace and four other teens were getting into to flee after they tossed toilet paper over his property, officials said.

The educator tripped and fell into the road, which was slick from rain, and was run over as Wallace drove his pickup truck away.

The horrified teens stopped to check on Hughes and provided first aid until emergency responders arrived and transported him to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Jason Hughes and his wife Laura Palmer Hughes in matching red shirts with the Georgia Bulldogs logo, both pointing one finger up.
Jason Hughes with his wife, Laura, in an undated photo.Facebook/Laura Palmer Hughes
Wallace’s accused co-pranksters — Elijiah Owens, Aiden Hucks, Ana Katherine Luque, and Ariana Cruz, all 18 — were arrested outside Hughes’ home and charged with criminal trespass and littering.

Hughes’ family thanked the community for the “outpouring of prayers and support as we grieve the loss of Jason,” according to WSBTV.

“We ask that you continue to pray for our family and also for the students involved in the accident along with their families. Please join us in extending grace and mercy to them as Christ has done for us.”

A family of four, including two boys and two adults, stand smiling in a forest.
Jason Hughes with his wife, Laura, and their two children.GoFundMe
The accident came hours after school officials warned juniors and seniors to end the annual prank war because students had taken things “too far” in previous years.

“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,” the school district said in a statement to the outlet. “He gave so much to so many in numerous ways. Our hearts and prayers go out to his wife and family.”