A West Point cadet and football player is getting national attention after helping save a man from a car crash just before the vehicle caught fire.
Larry Pickett Jr., a sophomore and free safety at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, was riding with his family in Orange County, N.Y., early on Sunday, Aug. 31, when they came across the wreck, according to CBS News, NBC News and The Athletic.
In a dramatic video shared by his father, Larry Pickett Sr., the two can be seen moving past downed power lines to pull the unconscious driver from the car. They carried the man to safety just before the vehicle burst into flames.
“Just after midnight, I watched in awe as my son, Larry Pickett Jr., ran toward a burning vehicle, ignoring the downed power lines crackling around it,” Pickett Sr. wrote in the video’s caption. “With immense courage, he pulled a man to safety, saving him from a fiery fate.”
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Emergency crews arrived shortly after on Route 9W, where the car had struck a utility pole and caught fire, according to a Fort Montgomery Fire Department statement on Facebook.
Once across the street, the dazed driver questioned what had happened. He told the Picketts he hadn’t used alcohol or medication. Eventually, he was able to stand and was taken to a hospital for treatment, The Athletic reported. Police later confirmed that the crash involved no alcohol and no charges were filed.
A spokesperson for the fire department told PEOPLE that while the Picketts’ quick action likely saved the man’s life, approaching downed wires is extremely dangerous. “They did a fantastic job,” the official said.
“What if we got there just a minute later?” Pickett Jr. told The Athletic. “I don’t think anyone else would have gone up to that car because of the power line, and unfortunately, he would have died.”
He also told CBS News he was thankful they happened to be there. “It just goes back to selfless service, the willingness to serve others,” Pickett Jr. said. “It feels good, but in the end, I’m just glad that everyone’s okay.”
Pickett Sr. credited his son’s courage to his Army training. “This is more than a display of leadership; it’s a testament to the character West Point is building in him — a readiness to go into the line of fire, not just for his country, but for anyone who needs it,” he wrote on Instagram.
Army football head coach Jeff Monken praised Pickett Jr. for his “courage” and “selflessness,” writing that “in that critical moment, he didn’t think of himself, only of helping another person in need.”
The U.S. Military Academy also commended Pickett Jr.’s “heroic actions” on X, calling them an example of the values the Army stands for. Athletic Director Tom Theodorakis added: “Cadet Larry Pickett Jr. and his father exemplify the values we hold dear, stepping up in a moment of crisis to save a life. Proud to see these traits in action, on and off the fields of friendly strife.”
