Teacher Killed in Yard-Rolling Prank Gone Wrong; Five Teens Charged in Hall County

A late Friday night prank in Hall County ended in tragedy, leaving a beloved teacher and coach, dead and five teenagers facing criminal charges.

Jason Hughes, 40, of Gainesville, was struck and killed after a group of five teenagers went to his home on North Gate Drive to roll his yard with toilet paper. When Hughes came outside, the group ran to two vehicles to flee. As 18-year-old Jayden Ryan Wallace began driving away in his pickup truck, Hughes tripped and fell into the road and was run over.

All of the teenagers attempted to help Hughes before first responders arrived, but he was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center where he later died.

Wallace is charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, reckless driving, criminal trespass, and littering. The four other teenagers face misdemeanor charges.

Hughes was a math teacher and golf coach at North Hall High School. The community response has been overwhelming, with a memorial growing outside the school where students and community members gathered to pay their respects.

The Hall County School District released a statement calling Hughes a loving husband, devoted father, passionate teacher, mentor, and coach who was loved and respected by students and colleagues, and asked that the media and public respect the family’s privacy as they grieve.

The investigation remains ongoing. A GoFundMe the school shared has raised over $217,000 for the Hughes family. The fundraiser is