A high school teacher in the U.S. state of Georgia has died after being accidentally run over during a prank carried out by some of his students.
The teacher, Jason Hughes, 40, stepped outside his home when students arrived to carry out a common high school prank known as “rolling,” where toilet paper is thrown over trees and around a house.
According to authorities, Hughes had reportedly been aware of the prank and planned to surprise the students while they were carrying it out. However, the situation took a tragic turn when he slipped on the wet ground outside his home, which had been made slippery by rain.
Police said that as the students attempted to leave the scene in two vehicles, Hughes was accidentally struck by one of the cars.
The driver of the vehicle, Jayden Ryan Wallace, 18, has been charged with vehicular homicide. Wallace and four other students involved in the incident are also facing charges of criminal trespass and littering on private property.
Officials said Wallace and two others immediately stopped to assist Hughes before emergency responders arrived and rushed him to the hospital, where he later died.
Hughes’ family, however, has appealed for the charges against the students to be dropped.
His wife, Laura Hughes, who also teaches at the same school, told the New York Times that her husband was deeply loved by his students and had been looking forward to catching them in the act.
“This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent another tragedy from occurring by ruining the lives of these students,” she said. “That would go against Jason’s lifelong dedication to investing in the lives of these children.”
A spokesperson for the Hall County School District described Hughes as a passionate teacher, mentor and coach who was highly respected by both students and colleagues.
Meanwhile, members of the community have set up a memorial outside the school where Hughes taught and coached to honour his memory.
