The five Georgia teenagers whose teacher died during a deadly prank will not be prosecuted for the educator’s death, the prosecutor said.
The teenage driver was charged with homicide and trespassing after Jason Hughes, 40, was inadvertently run over during a toilet paper prank at his home. The other four were charged with less serious offenses.
The teacher’s family had requested that the charges be dropped to “prevent another tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students.”
The driver’s lawyer thanked the family for their compassion and forgiveness, saying he was determined “to live a life that would make Jason Hughes proud”, according to the BBC’s US partner CBS News.
The math teacher knew the students were going to play a prank on him and came out of his house hoping to catch them in the act and catch them throwing toilet paper over trees during their prank, police said.
But Hughes tripped and fell on the slippery ground from the rain. As the students attempted to flee in two separate cars, he was accidentally crushed by the driver of one of the cars, police said.
Jayden Ryan Wallace, 18, the student who drove a pickup truck that struck Hughes, and two others stopped to try to help Hughes before help arrived and took him to the hospital, the sheriff’s office said.
Hall County Prosecutor Lee Darragh confirmed to BBC News on Friday that the charges had been dismissed, but declined to comment further.
According to CBS News, officials said no charges have been officially filed.
Laura Hughes, Jason Hughes’ wife, a teacher at the same high school, previously said she fully supported dropping all charges against the students.
She also added that her husband and father of two was beloved by the students, knew about the prank and “was excited and waiting to catch them in the act.”
“This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent another tragedy from happening, ruining the lives of these students,” she told the New York Times. “It would go against Jason’s lifelong dedication to investing in the lives of these children.”
She also said they were grateful for the outpouring of prayers and support as they mourned the loss.
“We ask that you continue to pray for our family as well as the students involved in the accident and their families,” the family said in a statement to CBS. “Please join us in extending grace and mercy to them as Christ did to us,” the family said.
Wallace’s lawyer told CBS that the teen was “still deeply grieving” but was “determined to move forward to live a life that would make Jason Hughes proud.”
“I am committed to living the rest of my life in a way that honors the memory of Coach Hughes by setting the example of Christ,” Jayden Wallace said. “He will never be forgotten.”