A 26-year-old Sergeant assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas, died in an on-duty government motor vehicle (GMV) mishap 26 October 2024 on the installation at 2030 local. The Soldier was pinned between a HEMTT PLS/trailer and a box truck while the vehicle was backing into an enclosed ammunition supply point vehicle holding area. He was transported to University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. No other injuries or damage was reported. The U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center is leading an investigation into the mishap.

Since FY20, the Army has lost an average of five Soldiers a year to GMV mishaps. This mishap was the first on-duty GMV fatality of FY25 and below the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

Safety tip

While the investigation into this mishap is ongoing, the following tips are based on historical information for like events that could prevent future vehicle mishaps and mitigate injuries:

• Ensure vehicle operators do a thorough walkaround the vehicle prior to moving it.
• Proper use of a ground guide will prevent Soldiers from being pinned between vehicles.
• Ground guides should never position themselves directly in front of or behind the vehicle they are ground guiding.
• Operators should stop the vehicle immediately if they lose sight of the ground guide.

For more tips and information, see https://safety.army.mil/ON-DUTY/Government-Motor-Vehicle/Ground-Guiding.