An Army football player rescued a man trapped in a burning vehicle during a Labor Day weekend incident in upstate New York. Larry Pickett Jr., a safety for the U.S. Military Academy’s football team, and his father, Larry Pickett Sr., pulled the victim from a white sedan engulfed in flames after it struck a utility pole.

Video shared by the family showed the car crashed into a tree, with a wooden pole partially crushing its roof. The Fort Montgomery Fire Department confirmed the vehicle was fully engulfed. According to NBC News, Pickett Jr. and his father carried the man to safety despite downed power lines crackling nearby.

Pickett Sr. credited his son for the rescue in an Instagram post, describing his actions as “immense courage.” The family was returning to West Point after a dinner in New York City, where they had attended the first Army football game of the season. Pickett Jr. told ABC News that his military training prompted him to act instinctively, stating, “We just saw someone who needed our help and reacted.”

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll praised Pickett Jr. on social media, calling him a “model of duty, honor, country.” The U.S. Military Academy highlighted the incident as an example of “leadership, courage, and selfless service,” while Army Athletic Director Tom Theodorakis noted the event reflected the values the academy aims to instill.

The rescue occurred as the Picketts were traveling back to West Point following a game against Tarleton State, which ended in a loss for the team.