At the request of the victim’s family, a Georgia prosecutor has dropped a vehicular homicide charge against an 18-year-old accused of driving the pickup truck that fatally struck a high school teacher during a late-night prank, the teen’s attorney said Friday(March 13).
Earlier this week, Hughes’ family said in a statement that he knew and cared deeply for the five students involved and urged authorities to drop all charges against them.
“This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students,” Hughes’ family said. “This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.”
The
Hall County Sheriff’s Office said Jason Hughes, 40, died after being taken to a hospital late on March 6. Authorities had arrested Jayden Ryan Wallace, 18, on a felony vehicular homicide charge, while four other teenagers faced misdemeanor charges.
Wallace’s attorney, Graham McKinnon, said the charges against his client had been dropped.
According to
CTV News website, the students went to Hughes’ home around 11:40 pm on March 6 and began wrapping his trees with toilet paper. As the teens started to leave, Hughes came outsidem his family later said he had known in advance about the prank and had hoped to surprise them.
The Hall County Sheriff’s Office said that as one of the teens began driving away in a pickup truck, Hughes tripped, fell into the road and was struck by the vehicle.
According to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, the teenagers stopped after the collision and attempted to help Hughes until emergency responders arrived.
McKinnon said the teens were taking part in a long-standing “competitive game” at North Hall High School, adding that Jaden did not drive unsafely.
“Jaden is still grieving deeply, but he’s determined eventually to carry on and live his life in a way that would make Coach 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. He will never be forgotten,” Wallace said.
