An Army football player and West Point cadet sprang into action to save a man from a burning car after a crash in upstate New York early Sunday, a moment captured on video and celebrated by his family and the military academy.
Black Knights sophomore safety Larry Pickett Jr., 20, was returning from a family dinner in New York City when the vehicle reportedly slammed into a utility pole on Route 9W in Fort Montgomery, sparking power lines and fire. A startling clip posted by his father, Larry Pickett Sr., shows Pickett Jr. running toward the wreck and pulling the driver from the car’s driver’s seat as flames quickly engulf the vehicle.
Within moments, the car was fully alight. Pickett Sr. told WTVD that there was no hesitation in his son’s actions. “There was no discussion. My son just jumped right into action,” he said, adding, “Thank you Jesus that this man will live to see another day! I am so grateful for my son LJ for saving his life!” Fort Montgomery firefighters later arrived to extinguish the blaze, and officials said the injuries did not appear to be serious.
The Army and West Point community lauded Pickett Jr.’s bravery. West Point acknowledged the cadet’s “heroic actions” in a Facebook post Sunday, noting that running toward danger to save lives embodies the Army Values and Warrior Ethos. Pickett Sr. also credited his son’s training at West Point for giving him the courage to act selflessly in an emergency.
Beyond his actions in the moment, Pickett Jr. has a track record of service. The Raleigh, North Carolina native volunteered as a youth ambassador at Marbles Kids Museum in his hometown and has traveled with his parents to Mexico to help build homes for families in need. His family also highlighted his longstanding instinct to help others, recalling incidents well before his West Point days, such as a prior effort to intervene with shoplifting in Raleigh.
On the field, Pickett Jr. is a two-way contributor who joined Army in 2024 and debuted in Friday’s game against Tarleton State, a game Army ended up losing in double overtime. He stands 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs about 195 pounds, continuing a trajectory that blends athletic achievement with a commitment to community service.
Pickett Jr. is also connected to football royalty, as he is the nephew of former Pittsburgh Steelers star Ike Taylor, reflecting a family lineage of athletic achievement.
Overall, the incident underscores a powerful blend of courage, character and commitment to others—qualities that West Point’s training appears to have reinforced both on and off the football field. It’s a reassuring reminder of how cadet-athletes can act decisively for the safety of others, even at personal risk, while continuing to serve their country and communities.