SerpApi.Org
A former Penn State football player was taken into custody Monday to begin serving at least nine months in jail for the DUI crash that killed his girlfriend last year.
Julian E. Crushshon-Fleming, 25, of Northumberland County, was sentenced Monday to nine to 23 months in the Bradford County Correctional Facility followed by six months of probation. He is eligible for work release.
He pleaded guilty in April to misdemeanor counts of involuntary manslaughter and DUI in exchange for the dismissal of 11 charges, including four felonies. The agreement was approved by Bradford County President Judge Maureen T. Beirne.
Bradford County District Attorney Richard Wilson said in a written statement that it was an “extremely unfortunate case.”
“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,” Wilson said. “While Crushshon-Fleming’s intoxication did not help matters, a jury would likely conclude that the collision with the deer caused the riders to crash, and therefore the victim’s death, not the alcohol intoxication.”
Defense attorney David S. Bahuriak Jr. told the Centre Daily Times that Fleming apologized during the hearing. He described Fleming, who had no prior criminal record, as a “stand-up young man” who wanted to take accountability.
“That says a lot about his character,” Bahuriak said. “... Nobody comes out of a mess like this happy.”
Alyssa D. Boyd, 23, of Columbia County, died in May 2025. Fleming was driving a 2024 Yamaha ATV - about 30-40 mph, one witness said - when he collided with a deer that jumped in front of them on Painter Lick Lane in Columbia Township, state police at Towanda wrote in an affidavit of probable cause.
Neither were wearing a helmet when they were thrown from the ATV, police said. Fleming was unconscious and later transported to a hospital with serious injuries. Boyd was pronounced dead at the scene.
Fleming said he was drinking before the crash, police wrote. Troopers said his blood alcohol level was 0.118%, over the legal limit of 0.08%
Bahuriak said coaches, mentors, politicians and others submitted character letters on Fleming’s behalf. The CDT was unable to immediately review the letters.
“Julian is beloved in the community,” Bahuriak said.
A former five-star recruit, the wide receiver started his collegiate career at Ohio State before finishing at Penn State. He played in 54 games, collecting 93 receptions for 1,139 yards and eight touchdowns. In his lone season with the Nittany Lions, he hauled in 14 passes for 176 yards and a score.
He signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent after the 2024 season, but failed his physical and did not join the team.
According to her obituary, Boyd was working toward a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Alabama and expected to graduate in December. She played soccer, basketball and track.
Boyd was also remembered as a talented artist, outgoing and someone who enjoyed socializing.
“She could light up any room with her amazing and beautiful energy,” her obituary read.
She was survived by her parents, a brother and others. A page on the fundraising site GoFundMe raised nearly $86,000, which went to either the Boyd family or toward the creation of a memorial scholarship in her name.
