In late May, a peaceful evening in rural Pennsylvania turned tragic, resulting in the death of a young woman and serious legal troubles for a former college football player.
Authorities have now charged Julian Fleming, a former top wide receiver for Ohio State and Penn State, in relation to the death of his girlfriend, 23-year-old Alyssa Boyd, following a fatal crash months earlier.
The incident occurred while the two were riding an ATV in Columbia Township, about 20 miles south of Elmira, New York. According to police reports, a deer unexpectedly entered the road, leading to a crash.
Boyd died at the scene, and Fleming was hospitalized with serious injuries. Investigations revealed that neither wore protective gear during the accident.
On October 8, Fleming turned himself in to the Pennsylvania State Police, as detailed by NBC. He faces numerous charges, including homicide by motor vehicle and DUI. Court documents indicate his blood-alcohol level was between 0.10 and 0.16 percent, above the state’s legal limit of 0.08.
David Bahuriak, Fleming’s defense attorney, insists the event was an unfortunate accident. He told The New York Times, “This was a tragic accident for everyone involved.”
“Our hearts go out to the family of the young woman, but there is no crime here,” he added.
Bahuriak also spoke to NBC News, explaining, “A deer ran into the roadway. They were both knocked unconscious. When he came to, she wasn’t breathing. He was traumatized.”
He emphasized the incident was ‘unavoidable’: “Regardless of whether there was alcohol involved or there wasn’t alcohol involved, this was an unavoidable event. He hasn’t done anything wrong. He hadn’t operated [the ATV] in unlawful manner. He hadn’t done anything wrong when this deer ran into the roadway.”
Fleming, released on a $75,000 bond, had just concluded a five-year college football career. After playing four seasons at Ohio State, he transferred to Penn State for his final eligible year. His best performance was in 2022, with 34 receptions for 533 yards and six touchdowns.
The 24-year-old from Catawissa had been training with hopes of joining the NFL. However, his priorities have now shifted from athletic aspirations to dealing with the repercussions of the crash, which has caused enduring sorrow for everyone involved.