Army defensive player, his father pull crash victim from burning car near West Point
Second-year West Point cadet Larry Pickett Jr. and his father are credited with rescuing a driver moments before the vehicle exploded on Route 9W in Fort Montgomery, New York
A 20-year-old Army football player and his father pulled a man from a crashed vehicle just before it exploded early Sunday, authorities said.
Larry Pickett Jr., a defensive player for the Army Black Knights and a second-year cadet at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and his father, Larry Pickett Sr., were returning to the academy after dinner when they came upon a car that had apparently swerved off Route 9W in Fort Montgomery, about five miles south of West Point, Orange County officials said. The crash occurred just after midnight.
According to Pickett Sr., the vehicle had struck a utility pole and live wires were dangling on the ground. Despite the hazards, the father and son rushed to the car and pulled the driver from the wreckage. The rescue came just before the vehicle burst into flames, authorities and family members said.
Officials credited the pair with a life-saving act. Local emergency responders arrived on scene following the rescue; authorities did not immediately release additional details about the condition of the driver or whether any charges or citations will be issued in connection with the crash.
Pickett Jr. is listed on Army’s roster as a defensive player for the Black Knights. Academy students often balance athletic commitments with military training and academic obligations; the school is located along the Hudson River in West Point, New York.
The rescue drew attention from academy officials and the local community, highlighting an off-field moment of courage by an athlete of a prominent collegiate program. Emergency personnel routinely remind motorists and bystanders to avoid downed power lines and to keep a safe distance from crash sites; in this case, the Picketts said they elected to act immediately to remove the trapped driver.
West Point supports a range of varsity sports under the Army Black Knights banner, and players occasionally receive recognition for actions taken off the field. The academy and local authorities have not released further statements about Pickett Jr.'s athletic season or any impact the incident might have on his status with the team.
Officials continue to investigate the crash and its circumstances. The Picketts’ actions were cited by authorities and family members as instrumental in getting the driver out of harm’s way before the vehicle ignited.