An Army football player and his father saved a man from a wrecked car seconds before it burst into flames, and the dramatic moments were captured on video.
Larry Pickett Jr., 20, and his father, Larry Pickett Sr., encountered the crash on Route 9W in Fort Montgomery early Sunday morning, authorities said.
With power lines sparking on the ground and trees pinning the driver in the car, the Picketts removed him and carried him across the street to safety. Lauren Pickett, Larry Jr.’s sister, captured the rescue on video.
“There was no discussion. My son just jumped right into action,” Larry Pickett Sr. told ABC affiliate WTVD in their hometown of Raleigh, N.C. “He mentioned his military training kicked in, and we pulled him out. He took care of him on the side of the road until the police officers got there.”
Seconds after the Picketts removed the man from the vehicle, it caught fire. Firefighters eventually arrived and doused the flames.
The family was on their way back from dinner in Manhattan. Pickett’s family was in town for Army’s first game of the season, a 30-27 loss to Tarleton State in double overtime on Friday night. Fort Montgomery is just 3 miles south of West Point.
Courtesy Larry Pickett Sr.
Larry Pickett Jr., 20, saves a man from a burning car on Sunday. (Courtesy Larry Pickett Sr.)
Pickett, a sophomore safety, made his first collegiate appearance during the game in recorded one tackle. In high school, he was a two-time all-state player at Enloe High, and he intercepted six passes in his senior year. He is also the nephew of former NFL defensive back Ike Taylor.
