In a tragic turn of events, a former Penn State wide receiver faces time behind bars for his involvement in a deadly ATV crash that claimed the life of his girlfriend last year. Julian Crushshon-Fleming, a 25-year-old from Elysburg, has been sentenced to serve nine to 23 months in the Bradford County prison following a court hearing presided over by Judge Maureen T. Beirne.
This sentencing follows Fleming’s guilty plea in April to charges of involuntary manslaughter and driving under the influence related to a fatal accident on May 23, 2025. The crash, which occurred on Painter Lick Lane in Columbia Township, resulted in the death of Alyssa Boyd, a 23-year-old from Bloomsburg.
The Night of the Tragedy
Eyewitness accounts describe Boyd riding on the back of an ATV driven by Fleming, neither wearing helmets. A witness reported hearing the vehicle rev up before it disappeared from sight, followed by a popping noise and a series of bangs. This testimony was detailed in an affidavit by Trooper Alexander Gregoire.
Scene of the Accident
Upon arriving at the scene, another driver found both Boyd and Fleming lying on the road. Boyd was unresponsive, while Fleming, who appeared dazed, was just regaining consciousness. Despite efforts from the driver’s mother and a neighbor to revive Boyd, she succumbed to her injuries.
Fleming, found with a bleeding head, explained to the witness that a deer had jumped in front of their ATV. Authorities later discovered the vehicle damaged, with deer hair on it and a dead deer nearby. Boyd was pronounced dead at the scene, covered with a tarp.
Impairment and Legal Proceedings
Fleming admitted to consuming five or six beers prior to the crash, with a blood test revealing an alcohol level of 0.118%, exceeding Pennsylvania’s legal limit of 0.08%. Boyd’s autopsy confirmed multiple traumatic injuries as the cause of death.
Initially, Fleming faced charges of homicide and aggravated assault while driving under the influence, which could result in up to 10 years in prison. Additional charges included homicide and aggravated assault by vehicle, DUI, and several traffic violations. The DUI charge alone could carry a six-month sentence.
Plea Deal and Legal Interpretation
District Attorney Richard Wilson negotiated a plea deal, dropping the more serious charges in favor of DUI and involuntary manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of five years. Wilson defended the agreement, stating on Facebook that proving a direct link between Fleming’s intoxication and Boyd’s death was challenging.
Wilson explained, “While we were confident that we could prove Crushshon-Fleming committed a DUI offense, proving the connection between that and the death of the victim would be difficult.” He added that the deer collision likely played a significant role in the accident.
Remembering Alyssa Boyd
Boyd, a Central Columbia High School alumna, was not only an athlete excelling in soccer, track, and basketball but also a budding artist. Her obituary, available here, highlights her vibrant personality and her ongoing studies in psychology at the University of Alabama.
