Former Penn State football player Julian Fleming was seriously injured in a tragic ATV accident that claimed the life of his girlfriend, Alyssa Boyd.
The incident occurred on the evening of Friday, May 23, in Columbia Township, Pennsylvania. According to an official crash report obtained by PEOPLE, Fleming, 24, was operating a 2024 Yamaha ATV with 23-year-old Boyd riding as a passenger when a deer unexpectedly crossed their path at approximately 8:13 p.m.
The sudden collision caused severe injuries to Boyd, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Fleming sustained significant injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. He has since been released, as reported by 247 Sports.
Authorities noted that neither Fleming nor Boyd was wearing any protective gear at the time of the crash.
Authorities also discovered a “recently deceased deer” at the scene, which they said matched the damage found on the ATV, further supporting the reported cause of the crash.
The incident remains under active investigation, according to officials.
Just before her death, Alyssa Boyd’s final Instagram post featured a photo of her and Julian Fleming smiling together on a football field. In the image, Fleming is seen wearing his full Nittany Lions uniform.
Alyssa Boyd, a Pennsylvania native and University of Alabama student, shared a photo of herself and Julian Fleming on Instagram back in January, marking the end of his final college football season. It was also her last post on the platform.
Fleming, also from Pennsylvania, began his college football career at Ohio State before transferring to Penn State after a standout run at Southern Columbia Area High School.
After finishing his fifth and final season with the Nittany Lions earlier this year, Fleming went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft. He briefly caught the attention of the Green Bay Packers, who were close to signing him in early May. However, the deal fell through after he failed a physical due to hip and back concerns, according to The News-Item.
Despite that setback PEOPLE reported, other NFL teams have expressed interest. Fleming has reportedly been in talks to attend minicamps with the Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, and Washington Commanders.