Georgia high school teacher Jason Hughes, 40, was killed by a vehicle outside his Gainesville home on Friday, March 6

High School Teacher Killed During Prank Gone Wrong Outside His Home, 5 Teens Arrested

Jason Hughes.Credit : Jason Hughes/Facebook

Jayden Ryden Wallace, the high school student charged in the death of his teacher in a prom season prank gone wrong, and his family are speaking out for the first time since the tragedy.

Wallace’s parents said in a statement released by the family’s attorney to CNN on Tuesday, March 10, that they feel “deep remorse” over the death of math teacher Jason Hughes, 40, who was allegedly fatally struck by the truck of 18-year-old Wallace outside his Gainesville home on Friday, March 6.

The teen, who faces three to 15 years in prison if convicted, also said in his own statement to CNN, per NBC affiliate WXIA-TV, “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.”

“We are a family in deep remorse and grieving over such a tremendous loss in our North Hall community,” the teen’s parents said in a statement obtained by CNN, per WXIA-TV. “Jason Hughes meant the world to our son, Jayden. 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,” his parents concluded of Hughes, who was a father of two young boys.

Jayden Ryan Wallace
Jayden Ryden Wallace.Hall County Sheriff’s Office

Hughes, a teacher and golf coach at North Hall High School in Gainesville, Ga., died after he “tripped and fell into the road and was run over” by the truck of an 18-year-old, who was pulling a toilet papering prank along with four other teenagers, according to the Hall County Sheriff’s Office.

Wallace was charged with first-degree vehicular homicide, a felony, reckless driving and a misdemeanor. The four other teens — Elijah Owens, Aiden Hucks, Ana Luque and Ariana Cruz, all 18 — were charged with misdemeanor counts of criminal trespassing and littering.

In Memory of Jason Hughes: Support His Family High School Teacher Killed During Prank Gone Wrong Outside His Home, 5 Teens Arrested
Jason Hughes (right) with his wife Laura Hughes (left) and their two sons.gofundme

The statements from Wallace and his family come after Hughes’ family called for the charges against him and the other teens to be dropped.