A 25-year-old Active Guard Reserve First Lieutenant, assigned to T.H. Morrow United States Army Reserve Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, on orders died in an off-duty PMV Pedestrian/Non-Motorist mishap 5 January 2025 in Kanawha County, West Virginia, at 1930 local. The Soldier was driving in the southbound lane of Interstate 77 when she lost control of her vehicle and collided with the median barrier. After exiting her vehicle, she was struck by a civilian semi-truck. The specific circumstances of the mishap are currently unknown.

Since FY20, the Army has lost an average of five Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV Pedestrian/Non-Motorist mishaps. This was the second off-duty PMV Pedestrian/Non-Motorist mishap of FY25 and above to the same number of off-duty PMV Pedestrian/Non-Motorist fatalities for this same time last year.

Safety tip

Tips for Stopping on the Highway Shoulder
Being a pedestrian on a highway shoulder is extremely dangerous. For this reason, if you are not in an emergency, do not stop on the shoulder. Whenever possible, drive to the nearest exit. If there is no exit within a reasonable distance and you are in an emergency, consider the following tips for stopping on the highway shoulder.

1. Take your foot off the accelerator.
When you run into trouble on the road, don’t slam the brakes. You never know what other drivers are doing behind you or if they’re paying attention to what’s happening in front of them. Instead, gently and smoothly take your foot off the accelerator to gradually slow down.

2. Signal your intentions to drivers around you.
There is nothing scarier (or more annoying) than a driver who cuts into your lane without warning. Don’t do it to others. If you have an emergency of some sort and need to pull over, use your blinkers to warn other drivers that you are intending to switch lanes. If possible, use your hazard lights to indicate your situation to the drivers around you.

3. Pull to the right side.
The right lane is typically the slowest lane. Because high speeds limit reaction times and visibility, the right side of the road is generally safer.

4. Pull off the road as far as possible.
This seems like common sense; however, many people fail to follow through on this. Even when the shoulder is wide enough, you should try to pull over as far as possible. It’s best to put as much space as possible between your car and the roadway. In fact, if the ground next to the pavement is even, you may want to consider pulling off the shoulder entirely.

5. Put the parking brake on.
Ensuring your parking brake is on will keep your vehicle from easily rolling if hit.

6. Exit the vehicle and stand on the side farthest from oncoming traffic.
If a car does come careening off the road and plows into your car, you want to be standing on the other side of the car. In fact, it is in your best interest to stand a couple of hundred feet away from the vehicle and off to the side. A car traveling at a high speed can push a stopped car hundreds of feet.

7. Make sure you’re visible.
Often, accidents occur because drivers simply don’t see that someone is on the side of the road. Flags, flares and other hazard indicators can warn others of your presence on the highway shoulder — especially at night.

8. Call for help immediately.
If you don’t have the equipment to change your tire or if you spend several minutes trying to start your car — call a tow truck. Every minute you are on the side of the highway puts you at serious risk. Your priority should be your safety, not your car or saving money.

Tips provided by AI Overview, NSC, NHTSA and Carlson Law Firm blog
 

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