21-year-old Fresno State student killed in car crash

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Family and friends say a 21-year-old Fresno State student killed Tuesday morning had been studying for finals in the hours leading up to the deadly crash.

Alexander Julian was in a BMW, when officers say he veered off the road and uprooted a power pole before slamming into a tree. Even though he was wearing his seat belt, he was ejected from the car.

The car was only twisted metal when it was pulled away from a tree just west of Fowler Avenue on Shepherd Avenue. Family members say Julian was a straight-A student who was planning to become a doctor until his life was cut short Tuesday morning.

At his family's home Tuesday, the festive season, was interrupted by tears, sadness and shock. Savy Gill said Julian was one-of-a-kind, candid and caring.

"He was really honest with people, and I think that was something that I really respected about him," said Gill. "And he was my best friend, but he would tell me straight up if I was doing something stupid. He'd be like 'man you need to watch out' and I was like 'alright.'"

Julian was smart, and according to his family and friends took hard classes and still maintained a 4.0 GPA.

"He was a bio chem major. He wanted to go into medicine. He wanted to be a medical doctor -- it seems what he was leaning towards even though his dad is a dentist and his other two brothers would like to follow in his footsteps," said Priscilla Ruiz, a close family friend.

California Highway Patrol officers say they aren't sure why Julian went off the road, but there may have been a hazard in the street he was trying to avoid.

"That's something we'll look into. I know there was a dead animal, I believe it was a skunk that was on the roadway, but that's something officers will have to take a look at and see what occurred," said Axel Reyes with the CHP.

Friends say Julian was a person you could share anything with, and he would keep it to himself. Gill recognized that years ago when the two became friends in seventh grade.

"Ever since then, our bond just grew and he was my brother. These people are my family too," said Gill. "I just can't believe it; it's just like losing part of your family. I saw him yesterday, a few days ago."

CHP officers will be backtracking the last 24 hours of Alex Julian's life. Right now, they say it's unknown if drugs or alcohol were a factor in the deadly crash.