A 20-year-old Army football player is being credited for making a courageous play off the field when he and his father witnessed a crash and teamed up to rescue the driver before his vehicle exploded into flames, authorities said.
Larry Pickett Jr., a defensive player for the Black Knights, sprang into life-saving action early Sunday in Fort Montgomery, New York, about five miles south of the U.S. Military Academy West Point, where Pickett is enrolled as a second-year cadet.
Pickett and his family were returning to West Point after having dinner and came upon a vehicle just after midnight that had apparently swerved off Route 9W in Orange County and crashed into a utility pole, Pickett’s father, Larry Pickett Sr., told ABC affiliate station WTVD in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he lives.
Despite noticing live wires dangling on the ground from the pole the car crashed into, Pickett Sr. said he and his son rushed toward the danger to reach the driver trapped inside the vehicle.
“There was no discussion. My son just jumped right into action,” the elder Pickett told WTVD. “He mentioned his military training kicked in, and we pulled [the man] out. He took care of him on the side of the road until the police officers got there, and then the fire department got there shortly after.”
The dramatic rescue was captured on cellphone video by Pickett’s sister, Lauren, and showed the father and son pulling the driver out of the car and carrying him out of harm’s way just moments before the vehicle burst into flames.
The Fort Montgomery Fire Department said in a Facebook post that when fire crews arrived, the vehicle was “fully engulfed in flames.”
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The driver appeared to be disoriented but conscious at the scene, according to the video posted online by the Pickett family.
The U.S. Military Academy posted a statement on Facebook early Sunday, saying it is “proud of the heroic actions” taken by Pickett Jr and his father.
“Running towards danger to save lives is the embodiment of the Army Values and Warrior Ethos,” the military academy posted.
Army athletic director Tom Theodorakis added in a social media post that Pickett Jr. and his father “exemplify the values we hold dear, stepping up in a moment of crisis to save a life.”
Larry Pickett Sr. posted the video of the rescue on his Instagram page and expressed how proud he is of his son’s actions.
“Thank you Jesus that this man will live to see another day! I am so grateful for my son LJ for saving his life! Not only is he making an impact in the classroom and on the football field at the United States Military Academy at West Point, but he’s also making a difference in his community!” the senior Pickett wrote.
He added, “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. With immense courage, he pulled a man to safety, saving him from a fiery fate. 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. To see that courage and selflessness in action firsthand was truly incredible.”
ABC News’ Darren Reynolds contributed to this report.
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