Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

A 26-year-old Sergeant assigned to Fort Cavazos, Texas, died in an off-duty PMV Pedestrian/Non-Motorist mishap 9 February 2025 in Dallas, Texas, at 0530 local. The Soldier was traveling on the interstate in a construction area at night when she experienced a flat tire. She pulled off the road, positioning the vehicle on the downhill side of a hill, to assess the damage when she was struck by a sport utility vehicle. The Dallas Police Department arrived and pronounced the Soldier dead at the scene. At this time, no further details are available.

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

Safety tip

Roadside emergencies happen to every driver. A flat tire, overheated vehicle or accident can happen any day — and force you to move your vehicle off the road for repairs or towing. This can be an incredibly dangerous situation, as you’re vulnerable to getting hit by other vehicles while you’re stopped on the side of the road.

Whether you’re performing repairs on your vehicle or waiting for help, it’s important that you take steps to keep yourself safe while you’re on the side of the road. Read on to learn how you can practice roadside safety, plus find apps that can help you perform repairs and call (and receive) help quickly.

Roadside Emergency Safety Tips

If you’re on the side of the road, you’ll need to exercise caution. Follow these tips to move to safety and stay out of the danger of traffic, remaining as safe as possible.

1. Take action immediately: If you notice car trouble, start moving over the right way. If you wait too long, your car may stop moving before you’re able to get off of the road.

2. Get as far off the road as possible: If you’re experiencing an emergency while driving, the most important thing you can do is get to a safe place. A shoulder will do if that’s all you can manage, but it’s best to exit freeways, turn off roadways and pull into a rest stop or parking lot. Try to stop under a streetlight if possible. Never stop around corners or curves, on the bottom of a hill or on a narrow road. Don’t stop on a left shoulder unless you have no other choice, as you will be unable to get out of your car and walk off of the highway. Even if you’re destroying your tire, keep going until you can get to safety. You may even save yourself tow truck fees if you’re able to get to a parking lot where you can handle repairs.

3. Warn others you’re having trouble: Turn on your hazard lights, and if you have safety cones, signs, flares, triangles or a light, use those as well to increase your visibility. If you’re stopped at night, be sure to leave your lights on. You can also pop your hood to show others you’re having car trouble.

4. Call for roadside assistance: If you have roadside assistance through your insurance, cellphone carrier or roadside club, give them a call immediately. They are typically available 24/7 with fast service that will take you to the nearest vehicle repair location. Remember to put their phone number in your cellphone so you’ll always have it handy.

5. Don’t exit your car until it’s safe: If you’re having an emergency, you may feel panicked and want to investigate the situation immediately. But be careful about getting out of your car, especially if you’re still near traffic. Get out of your car through the passenger side if there’s traffic on the driver side. And of course, look for traffic before you open your door.

6. Remember you’re in traffic: If you’re on the shoulder, keep in mind you and your car are not protected by the thin white line that separates you from the other cars speeding past on the freeway. All it takes is a distraction or wind to have a vehicle drift over into the shoulder, hitting your car. You should also take care to keep your distance from the flow of traffic. If you can’t perform your own roadside repairs safely, it is best to remain in the vehicle with your seat belt on and doors locked. Don’t stand behind or next to your vehicle.

7. Be prepared with emergency supplies: Keep a first aid kit, extra water and food, and emergency repair supplies including tools, a spare tire, duct tape, jack, jumper cables, heavy-duty rope, gloves and a can of emergency tire inflator. You should also have flags, flares or reflective triangles to warn other drivers that you’re having trouble.

8. Be careful about accepting help: It’s best to call professionals or a trusted friend or family member who can help. Yet strangers who see you’re having trouble may stop to offer assistance. They may be well-intentioned, but you should use caution. Lower your window only enough to talk and use your best judgment in accepting their help. If you’re waiting on roadside assistance or a tow truck, thank them for stopping but tell them help is on the way.

9. Know when to call a professional: Some vehicle owners can handle quick roadside repairs without help, but even the savviest of DIYers can get in over their heads and end up in dangerous territory. Know when it’s smart to call for help. While you might be able to handle a tire change in a parking lot, it’s not a good idea to try to do the same while you’re on a highway shoulder. Use your best judgment.


Roadside Assistance Safety Apps

Need help? You can get connected with service providers and repair advice quickly using these roadside assistance apps. Find a tow truck, learn how to change a tire and get help fast so you can get safely off the road.

10. HONK: HONK is a free on-demand roadside assistance app. It has more than 45,000 tow truck partners nationwide, and flats can be fixed in as quickly as 30 minutes. All you have to do is open the app, share your location information and provide the kind of help you need. You’ll hear back from a service provider with an estimated time for their arrival. This service is available 24/7.

11. Repair Pal: With Repair Pal, you can get help with auto emergencies and roadside assistance. The app offers an easy way to find mechanics in your area and get one-touch access to roadside assistance.

12. Urgent.ly: Urgent.ly is an on-demand roadside assistance service. It has Uber-like visibility and a flat-rate pay-per-use pricing. They use thousands of trusted service providers nationwide to get drivers back on the road quickly with immediate help and no annual fees. You’ll see nearby help, pick a service and watch help arrive in real-time.

13. Good Hands Rescue: This Allstate Insurance service is available to everyone, whether you have insurance with Allstate or not. Using this app, you’ll get in touch with the Allstate network of roadside assistance providers and get help when you need it. It uses your phone’s GPS to pinpoint your location and mobilize a service provider who can help. You’ll also get real-time Updates including a service confirmation and ETA information, so you know when help is on the way.

14. AutoZone: Think you’re up to the task of fixing your car yourself? AutoZone’s app has a repair help feature that offers trustworthy advice for fixing your car yourself and getting back on the road.

Tips provided by DefensiveDriving.Org
 

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A 38-year-old Staff Sergeant assigned to Camp Blanding, Florida, died in an on-duty PMV Pedestrian/Non-Motorist mishap 10 January 2025 on the installation at 0655 local. The Soldier was on drill weekend performing physical training when a civilian-operated vehicle struck him. The specific circumstances of the mishap are currently unknown.

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

Safety Tip

We rarely are more vulnerable than when walking in urban areas, crossing busy streets and negotiating traffic. We all are pedestrians from time to time, so it's important to pay attention to what is going on around us. In 2022, an estimated 9,188 pedestrians died in traffic and non-traffic incidents, with 7,522 of those killed in traffic crashes on public roads, according to Injury Facts.

All Ages Are Vulnerable

According to Injury Facts, in 2022, more than 17.7% of all traffic deaths were pedestrians. Every age group is vulnerable, but the largest number of pedestrian deaths occur among 55- to 64-year-olds (1,351). While children under aged 5 to 9 experienced the fewest number of pedestrian deaths (51 in 2022), these deaths still represented nearly 16.3% of all traffic deaths for this age group.

Follow these tips to stay safe as a pedestrian:

• Whenever possible, walk on the sidewalk; if no sidewalk is available, walk facing traffic
• Follow the rules of the road, obeying all traffic signs and signals
• Cross streets at crosswalks
• If no crosswalk is available and your view is blocked, move to a place where you can see oncoming traffic
• Look left, right and left again before crossing the street, making eye contact with drivers of oncoming vehicles to make sure they see you
• Stay alert – avoid cellphone use and wearing earbuds
• Avoid alcohol and drug impairment when walking
• Wear bright and/or reflective clothing, and use a flashlight at night
• Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways or backing up in parking lots
• Children younger than 10 should cross the street with an adult

Head Up, Phone Down

Distracted walking incidents are on the rise, and everyone with a cellphone is at risk. We are losing focus on our surroundings and putting our safety at risk. The solution: Stop using phones while walking, and not just in crosswalks and intersections. Over half of distracted walking injuries occur in our own homes, proving that we need to stay aware of our surroundings indoors and out.

Pedestrian Safety Is a Shared Responsibility

When driving, help keep pedestrians of all ages safe:

• Obey all traffic laws, especially posted speed limits in school zones
• Watch for pedestrians at all times and be extra cautious when backing up
• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, making eye contact to indicate that you see them
• Never pass vehicles stopped at crosswalks
• Stay alert – avoid distracted driving
• Do not drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
• Tips provided by the National Safety Council.

 

 

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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A 22-year-old Specialist assigned to Fort Liberty, North Carolina, died in an off-duty PMV Pedestrian/Non-Motorist mishap 1 January 2025 in Hoke County, North Carolina, at 0710 local. The Soldier was struck by a vehicle while walking along the road in limited visibility conditions. 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 first off-duty PMV Pedestrian/Non-Motorist mishap of FY25 and equal to the same number of off-duty PMV Pedestrian/Non-Motorist fatalities for this same time last year.

 

 

A 30-year-old Captain assigned to Fort Liberty, North Carolina, died in an off-duty PMV Pedestrian/Non-Motorist mishap 10 January 2024 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, at 1900 local. The Soldier was operating an electric-assist bicycle when he was struck from behind by a vehicle. Local law enforcement responded and transported the Soldier to the local medical center. Shortly after arrival, the Soldier was pronounced dead. The Soldier was wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including speed or alcohol, are currently unknown. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for law enforcement to release its final report.

Since 2019, 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 FY24.
 

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