The alleged prank was supposed to be a harmless one, although a tragic accident meant that the teacher would end up losing his life
A teacher has been killed after a prank played by a group of students went horribly wrong, according to reports.
The incident, which took place in Georgia, USA, on Thursday (March 5), saw high school maths teacher Jason Hughes run over in what is being called a “freak accident”.
The alleged pranksters, who were students at the same school, targeted the home of 40-year-old Hughes at around 11:40pm, driving to the residence in order to throw toilet paper over the roof and across the property, in a practice known colloquially as ‘TP-ing’.
Hughes is reported to have heard the commotion, going outside to put a stop to the prank. The five students are alleged to have looked to flee the scene upon seeing their teacher, with 18-year-old Jayden Wallace reportedly driving away in a pickup truck.
The maths teacher then tripped and fell, before being hit by Wallace’s vehicle, according to reports.
Wallace and two others are believed to have stopped to check on Hughes, desperately trying to provide first aid before emergency responders arrived and took him to a nearby hosptial.
Tragically, Hughes died from his injuries the following day.
Teenager Wallace was subsequently charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, as well as reckless driving, criminal trespass, and littering on private property. He is being held on a $1,950 bond, according to a report by the New York Post.
His four alleged accomplices, all also 18, have also been arrested and charged with criminal trespass and littering.
A statement on behalf of Hughes’ family said that their “hearts are broken” at the loss of their “loving husband and 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,” 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.”
Hughes is survived behind his wife Laura, who also works as a maths teacher at the school, as well as two children.
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