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CA NY Open US News navigation US News US News Metro Long Island Politics World News US News Metro Long Island Politics World News Search Search trending now in US News Skip to main content Kyrsten Sinema admits she had sex with her married bodyguard in... Beloved celeb TV staple canceled after 30 years Pentagon sending assault ship, at least 2,500 Marines toward Iran... Sheriff leading Nancy Guthrie case thinks he knows why mom was... Bronx teens rip out cashier's hair, slap security guard in... Extreme Mamdani estate tax proposal goes right after New York's... Twist in Guthrie case as FBI quizzes workers at Mexican eatery:... Charges dropped against 5 students involved in prank gone wrong... Breaking News Trump: US obliterates ‘every MILITARY target’ on Iran’s Kharg Island US News Family of Georgia teen who fatally ran over teacher speaks out after charges dropped against 5 students By Anna Young Published March 13, 2026, 7:55 p.m. ET The family of the Georgia high schooler who fatally ran over his teacher in a prank gone wrong called it a “devastating” freak accident, but not a “crime,” after his charges were dropped.
Jayden Wallace — an 18-year-old student at North Hall County High slapped with first-degree vehicular homicide for the March 6 death of math teacher Jason Hughes — thanked the educator’s widow for her compassion in pushing for the dismissal of a slew of charges against him and his four friends.
“Jayden Wallace and his family first want to thank Laura Hughes for her remarkable compassion and spirit of forgiveness in the face of tremendous loss of her husband, Jason Hughes,” Wallace’s family attorney, Graham McKinnon, said in a statement Friday to ABC News.
North Hall County High school teacher Jason Hughe died from his injuries after a break-gone-wrong on march 6. Facebook/Daniel Sides “District Attorney Lee Darragh was able to act swiftly because the facts and circumstances are not in dispute. As he was leaving the home, Jayden never saw Mr. Hughes, and Jayden’s vehicle had only traveled a few feet when the accident occurred.
“In the end, there was no crime — only an extremely sad and devastating accident. Jayde is still grieving deeply but is determined to move forward and eventually live a life that would make Jason Hughes proud.”
A judge on Friday approved the dismissal of multiple charges against the 18-year-old pranksters who were toilet-papering the teacher’s Gainesville home when he ran out and slipped before being run over.
The tragic accident also landed Wallace with charges of criminal trespassing, littering and reckless driving.
The other teens — Elijiah Owens, Aiden Hucks, Ana Katherine Luque and Ariana Cruz — were arrested outside Hughes’ home and charged with criminal trespassing and littering.
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Hughes’ wife, Laura, has previously called for the charges against the teens to be dropped, pressing that the death of her 40-year-old husband was a “terrible tragedy” but not one that should ruin “the lives of these students.”
“This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children,” she said.Laura did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
Hall County District Attorney Lee Darrah also fought to have the charges dismissed. He said they were filed without his office first being contacted.
The freak accident came hours after school officials called on the students to end the annual prank tradition as students in previous years had taken things “too far.”
