A school teacher died in a horrific accident following a prank that went wrong. Jason Hughes was a 40-year-old maths teacher at North Hall High School in Gainesville, Georgia. On Thursday, his pupils were draping trees with toilet paper at his home as part of a prank.

Jason spotted the group of pranksters outside his home at around 11.40pm and went out to confront them when they began to flee in their vehicles. Hughes then tripped and fell into the road, where he was struck by a pick-up truck driven by 18-year-old Jayden Wallace, reports The Sun. Wallace stopped to try and help Jason, but he was later declared dead at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Hall County Sheriff’s Office said.

Wallace was arrested for vehicular homicide and faces charges for reckless driving, criminal trespass and littering on private property, reports Metro.

Four other teenagers, Elijah Tate Owens, Aiden Hucks, Ana Katherine Luque and Ariana Cruz, were also arrested for the last two charges.

Jason’s wife, Laura, also taught at the same school – the couple have two children together.

A student at North Hall High School, Olivia Williams, said: “He always tried to make conversations with students, and he always just tried to be the most supportive he could.”

Locals say the prank was a school tradition played on popular teachers in the lead-up to spring break

In a statement, the school said: “Our hearts are broken. 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. We ask that the media and the public respect their privacy as they grieve.”

Paying tribute to Jason, one person wrote on Facebook: “Always smiling, always ready with a joke, and always making everyone around him feel welcome.

“He had a way of turning an ordinary moment into something memorable just by being himself.”

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There has been a GoFundMe page set up for Jason to raise funds to support his family.

A message on the page reads: “Jason’s life was a blessing to so many, and his untimely passing will be indescribably difficult for his wife and two young boys for years to come.

“Please use this opportunity to come alongside them in their time of immediate need and future planning for his children.”

The incident is still under investigation, authorities have said.