2:30 SATURDAY UPDATE:
A Gainesville man has been charged with first-degree vehicular homicide in a late Friday night incident that claimed the life of a North Hall High School (NHHS) teacher and coach. Jayden Ryan Wallace is also charged with reckless driving.
“At approximately, 11:40 p.m., deputies responded to the 4400 block of North Gate Drive, where a man had been run over by a vehicle,” Hall County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Derreck Booth said Saturday afternoon. “Hall County Fire Rescue transported him to Northeast Georgia Medical Center,
and deputies started the investigation.” “
The victim, identified as Jason Hughes, 40, died at the hospital.
“According to initial details, Wallace and four other individuals went to the location and ‘rolled’ the victim’s trees with toilet paper,” Booth said. “Hughes came out of the home, and the group got into two vehicles to leave. As Wallace began driving his pickup truck on North Gate Drive, Hughes tripped and fell into the road and was run over by the vehicle.
Wallace and the other individuals stopped and attempted to render aid while help responded, Booth added.
Wallace is also charged with criminal trespass and littering on private property, both misdemeanors.
The four with Wallace were also arrested, each charged with criminal trespass and on private property. They are identified as Elijah Tate Owens, Aiden Hucks, Ana Katherine Luqu and Ariana Cruz, all 18 with Gainesville addresses.
Hughes was a teacher and golf coach at North Hall.
ORIGINAL STORY. POSTED 12:45 P.M. SATURDAY: A North Hall High School (NHHS) teacher and coach has died but the circumstances surrounding his death were not immediately known.
County school district spokesman Stan Lewis confirmed the death of Jason Hughes shortly before noon today but referred us to the sheriff’s office for any other information.
“Our hearts are broken,” Lewis wrote in an email. “Jason Hughes was a loving husband, a devoted father; a passionate teacher, mentor, and coach who was loved and respected by students and colleagues. He gave so much to so many in numerous ways. Our hearts and prayers go out to his wife and family.“
The school’s website lists Hughes as a math teacher and golf coach.
The sheriff’s office has been contacted for more information but had not responded as of 12:45 this afternoon.