Army football player Larry Pickett Jr. and his father, Larry Pickett Sr., have been celebrated as heroes after they rescued a man from a burning car in upstate New York. The incident occurred on Saturday night as the two were returning to campus from an event, after the Army Black Knights game against Tarleton State. They were on their way back to West Point, where Larry Jr. is a second-year cadet, when they decided to investigate the situation involving downed power lines and a car accident. As they approached the scene, they found a man trapped in a vehicle that had crashed into a utility pole, causing the car to catch fire. Larry Jr., who already has a reputation for being a standout player in high school, was quick to act, with his father offering support. Together, they managed to pull the man to safety, avoiding the flames that would have otherwise claimed his life.
Video footage from the event, shared by Larry Sr. on social media, shows the intense moment when Larry Jr. and his father rushed to the car, pulled the man out, and carried him to a safer location. The fire department confirmed that the incident involved a car that had crashed into a utility pole, sparking a fire that could have been deadly if not for their quick actions. Larry Sr.’s post on Facebook thanked God for the man’s survival and expressed pride in his son, highlighting that Larry Jr. is making an impact both in the classroom and on the football field. The West Point cadet has previously earned All-State and All-Conference honors at Enloe High School in North Carolina, but his first college game had only seen limited action. After his sophomore season at West Point, Larry Sr. expressed pride in his son’s ability to take action in a real-life crisis, underscoring the values that the U.S. Army places on bravery and leadership.