An Army football player and his father have been commended for their “heroic” and “selfless” act of rescuing a man from a wrecked car just before it caught fire near the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
On an early Sunday morning, sophomore safety Larry Pickett Jr. and his father, Larry Pickett Sr., were captured in a video pulling a man from the driver’s seat and moving him to safety away from the vehicle.
At one point, a woman could be heard screaming: “Larry! Come on! Come on! Get him out!”
There was no discussion. My son just jumped right into action.
The white sedan had collided with a utility pole on Route 9W in Fort Montgomery, New York, roughly 3.8 miles (6.1 kilometers) from West Point, according to officials. The rescue was filmed by Pickett Jr.’s sister, Lauren, and showed sparks and downed wires surrounding the car.
The Picketts, who were visiting for Pickett Jr.’s first football game of the season, encountered the crash on their way back to campus after having dinner in Times Square, New York City. They remained with the injured man until emergency services arrived.
“Shortly after midnight, I witnessed my son, Larry Pickett Jr., run toward the burning vehicle, heedless of the live wires crackling around it,” Pickett Sr. shared in a Facebook post along with his daughter’s video. “With incredible bravery, he pulled the man to safety, shielding him from a potential tragedy.”
Speaking to WTVD-TV in their hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina, Pickett Sr. mentioned that his son “said his military training kicked in” when he instinctively reacted to the situation.
The elder Pickett said they stayed with the man until first responders arrived.
When “LJ” saw the wreck, he sprang into action, his father told ABC11.
“There was no discussion. My son just jumped right into action,” Larry Pickett Sr. said. “We pulled him 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.”
On X, formerly known as Twitter, the U.S. Military Academy wrote: “We’re proud of the heroic actions taken Saturday night by Cadet Larry Pickett Jr” and his father. Their actions, the academy said, are “the embodiment” of U.S. Army values.
Army Athletic Director Tom Theodorakis wrote on X that the Picketts’ conduct is “exactly what we strive to develop … leadership, courage, and selfless service.”
“Cadet Larry Pickett Jr. and his father exemplify the values we hold dear, stepping up in a moment of crisis to save a life,” Theodorakis wrote. “Proud to see these traits in action, on and off the fields of friendly strife. Count the brave.”
Pickett Jr.’s off-field heroics came a day after he saw action in Army’s season opener, assisting on a tackle on a kickoff in the first quarter of the Black Knights’ 30-27 overtime loss Friday night to Tarleton State. His next game is Sept. 6 at Kansas State.
“Thank you Jesus that this man will live to see another day! I am so grateful for my son LJ for saving his life!” the elder Pickett wrote on Facebook.
Pickett Sr.’s account of the rescue appeared alongside videos of Pickett Jr. playing football and posts about the cadet being featured in the EA Sports College Football 26 video game and named as Army football’s “Skill Worker of the Week.”
Pickett Jr.’s actions were 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,” Pickett Sr. wrote.
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