COLLIER TOWNSHIP, Pa. - A 17-year-old Carlynton High School student was killed in a crash on Interstate 79 while traveling to watch a friend play football in West Virginia. Police said Alyssa Maria Boff, of Carnegie, was in a sport utility vehicle that crashed on I-79 near the Marion County line around 5 p.m. Monday.

"Sadly, some of us had just written letters of recommendation, including myself, and we just found out she had been accepted to Edinboro University, where she was going to attend next year. That was the only place she wanted to go," Carlynton Principal Dr. Robert Susini said.

The driver -- George Cash Sr., also of Carnegie -- went off the road and into the median, police said. When he tried to steer back onto the road, the SUV flipped across both southbound lanes and over the guardrail and came to rest on the roof.

Both Boff and Cash were wearing seat belts and were trapped inside the vehicle, police said. Boff was pronounced dead at the scene, while Cash was taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.

Boff was a member of the Senior Colorguard at Carlynton. Susini said the next program will be in Boff's honor, and she will be recognized in this year's yearbook.

"One of my last interactions with her was at the (Carlynton vs. Bethlehem-Center) football game on Friday," Susini said. "We won, and we hadn't won in a few years. The students were enjoying themselves, and she was having such a great time with her friends."

Band parents have established a memorial fund with The South West Communities Federal Credit Union to help the family with funeral expenses. Anyone wishing to donate should make their check payable to "The Alyssa Boff Fund" and send it to:

South West Communities FCU

213 Pine Street

Carnegie, PA 15106

Phone: (412) 276-5379

or

South West Communities FCU

152 Noble Ave

Crafton, PA 15205

Phone: (412) 921-5370

Related Article(s): Carnegie Teen Girl Killed In West Virginia Crash On I-79

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