He died following his injuries
The district attorney has announced that the five Georgia teenagers involved in a prank that tragically led to their teacher’s death will not face prosecution.
One teen faced homicide and trespassing charges after Jason Hughes, 40, was accidentally run over during a toilet paper prank at his home. The other four teenagers were charged with lesser misdemeanours.
Jason Hughes’ family had asked for the charges to be dropped to “prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students,” according to The BBC.
An attorney for the teen who was driving thanked the family for their compassion and forgiveness, saying he is determined “to live a life that would make Jason Hughes proud,” according to CBS News, the BBC’s US partner.
Hughes, who taught maths, had known the students were going to prank him and emerged from his home hoping to catch the students in the act as they tossed toilet paper over trees during their senior prank, police said.
However, Hughes tripped and fell, and as the students tried to flee in two separate cars, he was inadvertently run over by the driver of one of the cars.
Jayden Ryan Wallace, 18, the student driving the pickup that struck Hughes, along with two others, stopped to help him before emergency responders arrived and transported him to the hospital, the sheriff’s office said.
Hall County District Attorney Lee Darragh confirmed on Friday that the charges had been dismissed but declined to further comment, per The BBC.
According to CBS News, officials said charges had not been formally filed.
Jason Hughes’ wife, Laura Hughes, also an instructor at the same secondary school, had previously said that she fully supported having all charges against the students dropped.
She went on to say that her husband and father of two was beloved by the students, knew about the practical joke and “was excited and waiting to catch them in the act”.
“This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students,” she told the New York Times. “This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.”
She added that they are grateful for the outpouring of prayers and support during their time of grief.
“We ask that you continue to pray for our family and also for the students involved in the accident along with their families,” the family said in a statement to CBS. “Please join us in extending grace and mercy to them as Christ has done for us,” the family said.
Wallace’s attorney told CBS that the teen is “still grieving deeply” but is “determined to move forward eventually to live a life that would make Jason Hughes proud”.
“I pledge to live out the remainder of my life in a manner that honours the memory of Coach Hughes by exemplifying Christ,” Jayden Wallace said. “He will never be forgotten.”
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