Charges dropped against teenagers after teacher died in prank gone wrong as family speak out

A group of five teenagers whose prank led to their teacher's death have had all charges dropped against them.

Maths teacher Jason Hughes died outside of his Georgia home last week after heading outside to meet five students, who were continuing a long-held tradition of covering his home in toilet paper.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck when Hughes, a father of two young boys, slipped on the wet road and was subsequently hit as the teenagers rushed to drive away, later passing away in hospital.

Jayden Wallace faced a felony charge of first-degree vehicular homicide and reckless driving, while Elijah Tate Owens, Aiden Hucks, Ana Katherine Luque and Ariana Cruz were all charged with misdemeanour counts of criminal trespassing and littering.

However, Hughes' wife Laura, who is also a teacher at North Hall High School, made it clear that there was no 'confrontation' and pleaded for the charges to be dropped to prevent two tragedies from occurring.

A statement from the family read: "There was no 'confrontation'. Jason knew the students were coming and he was excited and waiting to 'catch them' in the act.

"It had been raining and he accidentally slipped and fell into the road in front of the vehicle as they were driving away and was hit.

"The students immediately tried to provide aid until paramedics arrived. Jason loved these students and they loved him too.

"Our family fully supports getting the charges dropped for all involved. This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students.

"This would be counter to Jason's lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children.

"Our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students."

His wife Laura also works at the school (Facebook/Jason Hughes)

A legal expert had previously suggested to LADbible that Wallace could face 'significant prison time', especially if he were to be tried as an adult, but the District Attorney for Georgia's Northeastern Judicial Circuit has now confirmed to WHNT that all charges have been dropped.

"Jayden Wallace and his family first want to thank Laura Hughes for her remarkable compassion and spirit of forgiveness in the face of the tremendous loss of her husband, Jason Hughes," Wallace family attorney Graham McKinnon said in a statement Friday.

Wallace expressed his deepest sorrow after the incident (Hall County Sheriff's Office)

He continued: "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.

"Jayden is still grieving deeply but is determined to move forward eventually to live a life that would make Jason Hughes proud."

In a statement to ABC News, Wallace added: "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."

A further statement from his family said: "Along with the rest of our family, Jay expresses his deepest sorrow and sincerest apology to the Hughes family."