The Georgia teen who was behind the wheel of the vehicle that ran over and killed high school math teacher Jason Hughes in what has been described as a freak accident is speaking out.
Jayden Wallace, the North Hall County High student charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, opened up to 11Alive days after the prank gone awry led to the death of the 40-year-old teacher, father, and husband.
“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 to 11Alive. “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.”
Hughes, who was also coach of the school’s golf team, died on Friday, March 6, and already, his widow has called on prosecutors to drop the charges against the teenagers.
A group of five students showed up outside Hughes’ Gainesville residence to stream rolls of toilet paper onto his house and into the trees in his yard. Hughes tried catching the students as they sprinted back to their cars. As Hughes neared the street, he either slipped on the wet grass, tripped or lost his footing, and fell into the street where Wallace’s cars drove over him.
The teens all stayed behind to help Hughes, who was dead before first responders could arrive on scene.
Wallace — also facing criminal trespassing, littering, and reckless driving offenses — made his own comments in the statement.
“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 offered in the statement to 11Alive.
Hughes’ wife, Laura, is also a teacher at North Hall County High School, and said what happened Friday was an accident.
“This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students,” she has said, even starting a petition to clear the kids. “This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.”
One of Hughes’ former students spoke to Us Weekly about the grief they’re experiencing after the coach’s tragic death.
Sheyden Maynor, who graduated from North Hall High School in 2019, said that Hughes looked forward to this time of year because of the annual prank wars the students wage against the teachers and faculty.
“Coach Hughes always got excited about this time of year,” said Maynor, now 22. “He thought it was fun.”
The game is based on a points system: one point to the student if they roll another student’s house, two points if they roll a teacher’s or coach’s house and 3 points for an administrator’s house.
“It was not a malicious act,” Maynor said, about Hughes’ death. “It was just a tragic accident.”
Maynor said he hadn’t heard of anyone getting hurt before Hughes’ death but believes the future of the school pranking tradition may be in jeopardy, given the tragic circumstances: “I do think something is going to change about it.”
