Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

A 22-year-old Specialist and 23-year-old Specialist assigned to Fort Wainwright, Alaska, died in a government motor vehicle (GMV) mishap 2 October 2023 on the installation at 1100 local. During a unit movement from the battalion area to the Yukon Training Area (YTA) to conduct a Platoon Live Fire Exercise, the driver lost control of the MTV on an improved tank trail in YTA and rolled over. As a result, two Soldiers sustained fatal injuries and 10 other Soldiers sustained non-fatal injuries. A Safety Investigation Board led by members of the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center is leading the investigation into the mishap.

Since 2019, the Army has lost an average of eight Soldiers a year to GMV mishaps. This mishap was the first and second GMV fatalities of FY24 and above the number of fatalities for the same period last year.

 

 

A 28-year-old Staff Sergeant assigned to Fort Liberty, North Carolina, died in a PMV-4 mishap 18 June 2023 in Valley, Alabama, at 0235 local. The Soldier was reportedly traveling on County Road 379 when his vehicle left the roadway, striking a culvert, a stop sign and several trees. He was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. The Soldier was pronounced dead at the scene. It is currently unknown if speed, alcohol or drugs were contributing factors.

Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 27th PMV-4 fatality of FY23 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

Seat belts
Buckling up helps keep you safe and secure inside your vehicle, whereas not buckling up can result in being ejected from the vehicle in a crash, which is almost always deadly. Air bags are not a replacement for seat belts. They are designed to work in conjunction with seat belts. If you are not buckled up, the force of an air bag can cause serious injury or death.

Visibility at night
Night driving is dangerous because, even with high-beam headlights on, visibility is limited to about 500 feet (250 feet for normal headlights), creating less time to react to something in the road, especially when driving at higher speeds.

• Slow down to compensate for limited visibility and reduced stopping time.
• Ensure your headlights are clean and aimed correctly.
• Dim your dashboard.
• Look away from oncoming lights.
• If you wear glasses, make sure they're anti-reflective.
• Clean your windshield to eliminate streaks.

Drowsy driving

In addition to the obvious risk of falling asleep and running off the road or into another vehicle or object, drowsy driving affects your ability to drive safely even if you don’t fall asleep. Drowsiness makes you less able to pay attention to the road, slows reaction times if you must suddenly brake or steer, and affects your ability to make good driving decisions.

• Don’t drive if you have been awake for 16 hours or more.
• Stop every two hours to rest.
• Pull over and take a nap if necessary. It’s better to arrive late than not at all.

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A 24-year-old Sergeant assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas, died in an on-duty government motor vehicle (GMV) mishap 21 July 2023 on the installation at 0935 local. A five-vehicle logistics convoy, consisting of a Load Handling System (LHS) followed by four Light Medium Tactical Vehicles (LMTVs), was traveling southbound on Route GREEN toward the Fort Bliss cantonment area. The convoy commander, riding in the LHS, noticed a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle parked on the northbound shoulder. As the lead vehicle in the convoy stopped to render assistance, vehicle 3 (LMTV) impacted the rear of vehicle 2 (LMTV). The impact pinned a Soldier in the passenger compartment of vehicle 3. Soldiers at the scene immediately called emergency medical services (EMS). Upon EMS arrival, the Soldier was pronounced dead. A Centralized Accident Investigation team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center is currently leading the investigation into the mishap.

Since 2018, the Army has lost an average of nine Soldiers a year to on-duty GMV mishaps. This mishap was the third on-duty GMV fatality of FY23 and below number of fatalities for the same period last year.  

• Conduct convoy briefs in accordance with appropriate regulations and standard operating procedures.


• Enforce the use of vehicle restraints/seat belts for all vehicle occupants.


• Establish tactical communications within convoys.


• Maintain established convoy speed and distance between vehicles.


• Establish procedures for vehicle stops and breakdowns.


• Use warning lights during periods of darkness or low visibility.


• Establish and enforce speed limits for limited visibility conditions (dust, fog, darkness, smoke, etc.).  

 

The Joint Risk Assessment Tool is designed to assist users with creating an automated deliberate risk management worksheet (DD Form 2977) and the application of risk management https://jrat.safety.army.mil.

 

 

A 23-year-old Specialist assigned to Camp Buehring, Kuwait, died in a government motor vehicle (GMV) mishap 25 May 2023 at Camp Udairi, Kuwait at 1026 local. During a movement in support of range operations, a High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle overturned. One Soldier suffered fatal injuries and another Soldier sustained permanent total disability injuries. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including Soldiers' use of seat belts, mishap sequence and if speed was a contributing factor, are currently unknown.

Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of nine Soldiers a year to GMV mishaps. This mishap was the second GMV fatality of FY23 and below the number of fatalities for the same time last year.
 

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A Specialist assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky died in a government motor vehicle (GMV) mishap 16 December 2021, at 0156 local. A field litter ambulance drove over two sleeping Soldiers in a non-designated and unmarked sleeping area, resulting in one Soldier fatality and another Soldier suffering non-fatal injuries.

Since 2017, the Army has experienced an average of 10 GMV fatalities per year. This was the second GMV fatality of FY22 and above the number of GMV fatalities during the same time period last year.


Tips:

- Ensure sleeping area perimeters are designated and marked as tactical situation permits (ChemLight, engineer tape).
- Select sleeping areas protected by natural obstacles when possible.
- Ensure Soldiers do not sleep outside of designated marked sleeping areas or in/under vehicles.
- Post a sleeping area guard to warn vehicle crews of troops on the ground.
- Establish dismount points beyond which vehicles may not move without ground guides.
- Ensure ground guides use flashlights to direct vehicles when visibility is reduced.
- Ensure vehicle commander walks completely around vehicle prior to movement to check for personnel clearance and other hazards in the vicinity.