A high school teacher in Gainesville, Georgia, was killed Friday when a group of students, engaged in “rolling” his yard with toilet paper, accidentally ran over the man.
News sites reported that Jason Hughes, 40, knew the traditional prank was coming and was attempting to surprise the students. But he slipped and fell on rain-slickened ground just as one of the cars pulled away, the Associated Press and New York Times reported.
The students attempted to administer first aid at the scene, but Hughes was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The driver, an 18-year-old, has been charged with vehicular homicide. Others face trespassing charges.
Hughes’ wife, also a teacher at North Hall High School, urged authorities to drop the charges. Laura Hughes said the teacher and the students loved each other and that he had expected the good-natured prank.
“This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students,” Laura Hughes said in a statement to the press. “This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.”
Hughes was a math teacher and assistant golf, football and baseball coach at the school near Atlanta.
Photo: An example of a toilet-paper rolling prank. (AdobeStock)
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Georgia
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