Army Football Player Pulls Man From Burning Car Moments Before It Explodes

A West Point cadet and free safety is gaining national attention for his quick action after he helped save a man from a crashed vehicle before it burst into flames. 

Larry Pickett Jr., a sophomore at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, was in the car with family when they passed a crashed vehicle in Orange County, N.Y. in the early morning hours of Sunday, Aug. 31, CBS News, NBC News and The Athletic reported.

In a harrowing video shared by the college student’s dad, Larry Pickett Sr., the two Pickett men were seen navigating downed power lines as they rushed to remove the unresponsive driver from the vehicle. They carried him across the street before the sedan became a fireball.

“Just after midnight, I watched in awe as my son, Larry Pickett Jr., ran toward a burning vehicle, ignoring the downed power lines crackling around it,” wrote the proud dad in the video’s caption. “With immense courage, he pulled a man to safety, saving him from a fiery fate.”

That morning, emergency responders arrived at the scene on Route 9W after a vehicle “struck a utility pole and became fully engulfed in flames,” the Fort Montgomery Fire Department said in a statement on Facebook. 

After the disoriented driver was safely on the other side of the road, he could be heard questioning what happened. The man denied consuming any alcohol or medication before the crash. Eventually able to stand, the driver went to an ambulance so he could be transported for treatment at a local hospital, The Athletic reported. Police told the outlet that the crash did not result in any charges. 

A spokesperson for the Fort Montgomery Fire Department tells PEOPLE that he learned of the specifics of the heroic rescue the day after the crash, but says the Picketts did a “fantastic job.” While the driver most likely wouldn’t have survived without the men’s help, the official warns that approaching downed wires is dangerous.

The Town of Highlands Police Department and Pickett family did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment. 

“What if we got there just a minute later?” Pickett Jr. told The Athletic. “I honestly don’t think anyone else would have gone up to that car just because of the power line, and unfortunately, he would have died.”

He told CBS News that he was grateful they happened to be there in the moment to save the man’s life. “It just goes back to selfless service, the willingness to serve others,” Pickett Jr. said. “It feels good, but in the end, I’m just glad that everyone’s okay.”

His dad attributed his son’s courage to his Army training. 

“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,” Pickett Sr. wrote on Instagram, where he posted the video. “To see that courage and selflessness in action firsthand was truly incredible.”

The young man’s coach also acknowledged the player’s “courage” and “selflessness” following the near-fatal accident. 

“In that critical moment, he didn’t think of himself, only of helping another person in need,” Jeff Monken, head coach of the Army West Point football program, wrote on social media. “We are incredibly proud of Larry for the way he represented his family, our Army Football brotherhood, and the values of West Point.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The military academy praised Pickett Jr.’s “heroic actions” on X, adding that his life-saving act was the “embodiment of [Army] values.” 

“Cadet Larry Pickett Jr. and his father exemplify the values we hold dear, stepping up in a moment of crisis to save a life,” wrote Athletic Director Tom Theodorakis. “Proud to see these traits in action, on and off the fields of friendly strife.”