A Georgia high schooler charged with fatally running over his teacher in a prank gone wrong expressed his “deepest sorrow” as he vowed to honor the loving educator’s memory after the tragedy.
Jayden Wallace, an 18-year-old student at North Hall County High, faces a slew of charges — including first-degree vehicular homicide — after math teacher Jason Hughes, 40, slipped outside of his own home and was fatally run over on March 6.
“We are a family in deep remorse and grieving over such a tremendous loss in our North Hall community. Jason Hughes meant the world to our son, Jayden,” Wallace’s family said in a statement, according to 11Alive on Tuesday.
“He took the time to invest in Jay and poured his love into him, making a lasting impact. Along with the rest of our family, Jay expresses his deepest sorrow and sincerest apology to the Hughes family.”
“I pledge to live out the remainder of my life in a manner that honors the memory of Coach Hughes by exemplifying Christ. He will never be forgotten,” the teen said in the statement.
Hughes had been excitedly waiting outside his home in Gainesville, Ga., to “catch” Wallace and friends “rolling” his property with toilet paper as part of an ongoing “prank war” tradition with the school.
Hughes’ home was a clear target for the prank war, given that teachers’ homes were worth two points, according to last year’s rule set, and both he and his spouse were teachers at North Hall High School.
After “catching” the pranksters, Hughes ran after the teens but slipped and fell into the road because of the rainy weather and was run over as Wallace attempted to drive his pick-up truck away, the outlet reported.
The five teens gave first aid to the injured teacher before first responders arrived and rushed Hughes to a hospital, where he later died of his injuries.
Hughes’ wife, Laura, has previously called for the charges against the teens to be dropped.
”This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students. This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children,” the heartbroken widow said.
The freak accident came hours after school officials called on the students to end the annual tradition as students in previous years had taken things “too far.”
Wallace was arrested and booked into Hall County Jail. He has since been released on a $1,950 bond.
The other teens, identified as 18-year-olds Elijiah Owens, Aiden Hucks, Ana Katherine Luque and Ariana Cruz, were arrested outside Hughes’ home and charged with criminal trespassing and littering.
Hall County District Attorney Lee Darragh said he would look into dropping the charges against the teens, saying they were charged without his office being contacted.
“I have talked with the family on the phone, and will meet them in person soon. Their request to drop the charges will be given great deference. I was not consulted by law enforcement before these charges were leveled. I will be reviewing the evidence as I should and will be deciding soon,” Darragh told WSB-TV.
Hughes leaves behind his wife and their two young sons.
Community members have rallied around the devastated family, raising over $450,000 in a GoFundMe that has raised over $454,000 to be used for future college expenses for Hughes’ sons.