At 12:21 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31, Town of Highlands Police and the Fort Montgomery Fire Department were dispatched to Rt. 9W, near Dunkin’, for a motor vehicle accident.

By the time they got there … within minutes … the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, David Denton, 67, of New York City, had been pulled from the vehicle by a father and son who happened to be passing by just after the accident happened. That father and son duo quickly became nationally known heroes, quite possibly because the son is an Army football player.

“Both Larry Pickett and Larry Pickett Jr. pulled the motorist from the vehicle and brought him to safety,” the police report on the incident reads, while others who came across the scene returned to the vehicle to check if anyone else was inside.

They acted quickly, and it was a good thing because very soon the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames.

Also from the police report: “Upon arrival, it was determined a white SUV had hit a utility pole, bringing the wires down on the roadway and vehicle. The vehicle became fully engulfed in flames. The driver was removed from the car by bystanders prior to police arrival and was transported to Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh by THVAC. Driver suffered injuries including bruising to the left shoulder from the seatbelt, abrasions to the chin, right hand, and forehead with complaints of head and lower back pain. PD secured the scene, and removed all vehicles from the immediate area, and stopped all traffic on Rt. 9W. The Fort Montgomery Fire Department responded and extinguished the fire. Around the Clock Towing responded and removed the vehicle. Orange & Rockland was contacted and responded for the downed power lines, and a representative was notified to check the gas lines in the area.”

The Pickett family was en route back to West Point after dinner in New York City, it was reported, when they came across the accident. Pickett Jr. is a West Point sophomore who is a safety on the Black Knights.

The entire incident was caught on video by another member of the Pickett family, and shown widely on the internet and television by Sunday evening, as part of stories about the heroism of the father and son in outlets such as Sports Illustrated, the New York Post and others. On social media, the elder picket wrote: “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.”

Town of Highlands Police Chief Joseph Burns agrees, saying: “This was a great example of servant leadership one comes to expect from West Point attendees. This family’s quick actions helped prevent a potential tragedy.”

In his social media posts, Picket also praised the actions of local first responders, noting their very quick arrival at the scene.

The official West Point Facebook page also commended the Pickett father and son: “USMA is proud of the heroic actions taken Saturday night by Cadet Larry Pickett Jr, a second-year West Point cadet and Army West Point Football player, and his father, Larry Pickett Sr, who are seen pulling a driver to safety in a video online taken by the family. Running towards danger to save lives is the embodiment of the Army Values and Warrior Ethos.”

Denton was not charged as a result of the accident. He was seen in the video of the incident shaken up, but conscious. Repeatedly the Pickett’s could be heard questioning how he felt, letting him know he was safe, and keeping him awake and talking until first responders arrived.

Fort Montgomery Fire Department Chief Rich Salva called the scene a dangerous one, due to a large propane tank – likely belonging to Dunkin’ – just five or six feet beyond the burning car. Salva also noted that the Picketts, in addition to removing Denton from the car, had to keep warning other motorists from driving over the live wires on the roadway.

Salva called it “a great outcome” and said the Pickett’s actions were very heroic, yet potentially dangerous to them -- had the live wires been on the car, the situation, he said, could have ended much differently. Salva also praised the Pickett family for keeping other motorists from crossing the wires; that, he said, is always dangerous.

While the accident clean-up took place and repairs were made, most of Fort Montgomery lost power. Salva said as they were finishing at the accident scene, they were then dispatched to Bear Mountain Inn’s Echo Lodge for a fire alarm they discovered was caused by power loss from the power grid shut down at the primary call. The FMFD was then requested to return to the accident scene to facilitate additional water on the vehicle prior to it being towed.