Army football player Larry Pickett Jr. saves driver from burning car in Upstate New York crash
Share and Follow

An Army football player was captured on video courageously rescuing a man from a burning vehicle in Upstate New York, after the driver collided with a utility pole, resulting in sparks flying around the crash site.

Black Knights sophomore safety Larry Pickett Jr. sprang into action without hesitation when he noticed a car ablaze on Route 9W in Fort Montgomery early Sunday morning, as reported by WTVD.

Pickett Jr., 20, was returning from dinner in New York City with his family when they noticed the crash and he sprang into action.

“There was no discussion. My son just jumped right into action,” Larry Pickett Sr. told the outlet.

“It’s just amazing to see him in action. And it’s just not surprising because we’ve watched him his whole life do amazing things.”

Startling video posted on Facebook by his father shows his son fearlessly running toward the vehicle and pulling the man out from the driver’s seat.

Soon after moving the man to safety, the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames.

“Thank you Jesus that this man will live to see another day! I am so grateful for my son LJ for saving his life!” his father shared.

“He’s not only making an impact in the classroom and on the football field at the United States Military Academy at West Point, but he’s also contributing positively to his community!”

Pickett Sr. credited his son’s West Point training for giving him the courage to save the man’s life.

“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.

“To see that courage and selflessness in action firsthand was truly incredible.”

Firefighters eventually responded to the crash site and extinguished the blaze, according to the Fort Montgomery Fire Department.

Pickett Sr. said he didn’t know the man’s exact condition but believed his injuries weren’t serious.

West Point also recognized Pickett Jr.’s “heroic actions” and wrote in a Facebook post Sunday that the young cadet “running towards danger to save lives is the embodiment of the Army Values and Warrior Ethos.”

Pickett Sr. also revealed to WRAL that even before his son attended West Point, he was driven by a desire to help others.

“I remember right before we brought him to West Point, he actually chased down somebody that was shoplifting from a store in Raleigh,” he said.

“It was like, ‘LJ, that’s dangerous. Like, you don’t know what he could have had on him.’ It’s just his instinct to be there and to help people, and obviously his training at West Point.”

The 20-year-old safety is a native of Raleigh, NC, and was a standout two-way football player for Enloe High School, according to his West Point bio.

Pickett Jr. is the nephew of former Pittsburgh Steelers star and two-time Super Bowl champion Ike Taylor, who spent 12 seasons in the NFL.

Beyond football, Pickett Jr. devotes his time to serving others — volunteering as a youth ambassador at Raleigh’s Marbles Kids Museum and traveling with his parents to Mexico to help build homes for families in need.

The 6’1″, 195-pound safety made his Army debut in Friday’s game against Tarleton State, which Army lost in double overtime.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Deal to sell 117 JCPenney stores in danger of collapse

Potential Collapse Looms Over Sale of 117 JCPenney Stores

A widespread JCPenney store sale, involving locations in 35 states and Puerto…
Former Florida law enforcement officer accused of forcing 6-year-old underwater in hotel pool: report

Ex-Florida Police Officer Allegedly Submerges 6-Year-Old in Hotel Pool, Report Reveals

A former law enforcement officer, known for her talks to students about…
Bosses warn that job axe will swing for millions of heads in 2026

Employers Predict Significant Job Cuts Impacting Millions by 2026

Prepare for an increasing wave of automation as next year unfolds, with…
Layoff announcements top 1.1 million, most since 2020 pandemic

Job Cuts Surge to Highest Levels Since 2020: Over 1.1 Million Positions Affected

According to recent data from Challenger, Gray & Christmas, U.S. employers have…
Joe Rogan says Trump's recent behavior 'nutty'

Joe Rogan Critiques Trump’s Latest Actions as ‘Nutty’: A Closer Look at the Controversial Commentary

Joe Rogan recently expressed concerns over Donald Trump’s erratic behavior, attributing some…
Tynesha McCarty-Wroten, charged in Zion pedestrian Darren Lucas' death while allegedly livestreaming on TikTok, out of custody

Zion Tragedy: TikTok Livestreaming Suspect Tynesha McCarty-Wroten Released from Custody in Darren Lucas Pedestrian Death Case

A woman, previously held in custody after being accused of fatally hitting…
Times Square to feature patriotic ball drop for New Year's Eve, kicking off US's 250th birthday in NYC

Times Square to Host Patriotic Ball Drop for New Year’s Eve, Launching America’s 250th Anniversary Celebrations in NYC

NEW YORK — As New Year’s Eve descends upon New York City,…
Florida man kills wife, shoots stepdaughter and himself after argument

Tragic Florida Incident: Man Fatally Shoots Wife, Injures Stepdaughter, and Takes Own Life After Domestic Dispute

A family in Florida experienced unspeakable tragedy when an argument over a…