Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

A Private First Class assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, died in a PMV-2 mishap 2 May 2025 in Clarksville, Tennessee, at 0031 local. The Soldier was operating his motorcycle when the mishap occurred. First responders arrived and pronounced him dead at the scene. Personal protective equipment use, training, speed and alcohol or drug involvement are currently unknown. No additional information is currently available.    

Since FY20, the Army has lost an average of 30 Soldiers a year to PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the 14th PMV-2 fatality of FY25 and below the number of fatalities for this same time last year.

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A 37-year-old assigned to Vicenza, Italy, died in and off-duty sports, recreation and physical training mishap 19 April 2025 in Bosnia, at 2000 local. The Soldier was hiking when he slipped and fell into a ravine.

Since FY20, the Army has lost an average of nine Soldiers a year to off-duty sports, recreation and physical training mishaps. This was the second fatal off-duty sports, recreation and physical training mishap of FY25 and above the number of off-duty sports, recreation and physical training fatalities for this same time last year.

Safety tip

• Use the buddy system.
• Make an emergency plan. Before heading out, know how you will call or send for help in the unlikely event something bad happens. Remember, you may not have reliable cell service where you are hiking.
• Drink and carry plenty of water (a minimum of one quart per person every two hours). Although stream, river and lake water may look clean, it can make you ill.
• Wear sturdy, comfortable shoes to help prevent injury.
• Don’t walk off-trail. Walking off-trail increases your chance of suffering an injury or getting lost.
• Tell a responsible person back at camp or at home where you are going and when you plan on returning.
• Never feed or touch wildlife.

For more information, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov.

 

 

A Second Lieutenant assigned to Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia, died in a PMV-2 mishap 21 April 2025 in Richmond, Virginia, at 2300 local. The Soldier was operating his motorcycle when the mishap occurred. Personal protective equipment use, training, speed and alcohol or drug involvement are currently unknown. No additional information is currently available.

Since FY20, the Army has lost an average of 30 Soldiers a year to PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the 13th PMV-2 fatality of FY25 and below the number of fatalities for this same time last year.

 

 

A 29-year-old Sergeant assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, died in a PMV-2 mishap 11 March 2025 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, at 1905 local. The Soldier was operating his motorcycle when he collided with another vehicle while entering an intersection. The Fayetteville Police Department responded to the scene. Personal protective equipment use, training, speed and alcohol or drug involvement are currently unknown. No additional information is available at this time.

Since FY20, the Army has lost an average of 29 Soldiers a year to PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the 12th PMV-2 fatality of FY25 and below the number of fatalities for this same time last year.

Safety Tip

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 35% of fatal motorcycle accidents occur at intersections. In addition, 42% of fatal two-vehicle motorcycle crashes occurred when the other vehicle was turning left. Any intersection is potentially hazardous, whether it has stoplights, stop signs or is unmarked.
 

• Stay Alert to Navigate the Intersection: Maintain constant vigilance and be prepared for unexpected actions from other drivers.


• Ride at a Safe Speed: Approach intersections at a speed that allows you to react to changing conditions and avoid speeding.


• Be Observant: Pay close attention to other vehicles' movements, especially those preparing to turn across your path. Be aware of drivers' signals, head turns and steering wheel movements, which can indicate their intentions. Drivers often have a "tell" where they are about to go … a turn of the head or a steering wheel movement should signal you to cover your hand on the brakes (don't overreact, though). Look for wheel movement on cars approaching from the side.


• Practice Emergency Braking: Cover your brakes and be prepared to stop quickly. Make sure you improve your emergency braking skills. Most riders don't come near the stopping potential of their bike and tires. Training and continual practice are key to stopping your motorcycle by applying both brakes smoothly and firmly while rolling off the throttle. You should focus on the front brake and apply the rear brake a fraction of a second later.


• Learn "Brake, then Swerve" Techniques: Practice maneuvering to avoid potential collisions. A swerve is essentially two consecutive turns: one to avoid an obstacle, the second to recover. Always ensure you identify a safe place to swerve. Look for an escape route, then execute. Remember that braking and swerving are two actions that are executed separately. For example, if you must brake first, you should swerve second, or if you must swerve, then you should apply the brakes after. Remember that swerving is often more dangerous than emergency braking and can lead to an unintended mishap unless you are trained.


• Move Away from Turning Vehicles: After entering the intersection, move away from vehicles preparing to turn. Do not change speed or position radically. The driver might think you are preparing to turn.


• Don't Rely on Loud Pipes: Avoid relying on loud pipes or other passive strategies for safety.


• Give Yourself Space: Maintain a safe following distance behind other vehicles. Give yourself more time and space to respond by approaching intersections at conservative speeds. Speeding into intersections is a bad idea. Avoid trying to "make the light."


• Be Aware of Blind Spots: Be aware of other driver's blind spots and where they might lose sight of you. Selecting the optimum lane position is important so others can see you. Always be aware of your line of sight! Studies show that using high beams during the day can be helpful. Do not flash your lights, which other drivers could easily miscommunicate. Avoid "hiding" behind vehicles ahead, and do not tailgate.


• Take a Motorcycle Safety Course: Ensure you take a motorcycle safety training course to improve your riding skills and learn about safe intersection techniques.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that riding a motorcycle in traffic is risky. People make unsafe actions and take unnecessary risks. It's your job to do your best to minimize the risk by using effective strategies that give you some measure of control.
 

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A 34-year-old Private First Class assigned to Fort Cavazos, Texas, died in a PMV-4 mishap 8 March 2025 in Houston, Texas, at 1500 local. The Soldier was on his way to a baseball game with his son when another motorist ran a red light and collided with his vehicle. The Houston Police Department responded and pronounced the Soldier dead at the scene. The incident is currently under investigation and no additional information is available at this time.

Since FY20, the Army has lost an average of 36 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 16th PMV-4 fatality of FY25 and below the number of PMV-4 fatalities for this same time last year.

Safety tip

Intersecting roadways are necessary to connect people driving, walking and bicycling from one route to another. However, where roads intersect and paths cross, the resulting conflict points create circumstances where crashes can occur. In fact, each year roughly one-quarter of traffic fatalities and about one-half of all traffic injuries in the United States are attributed to intersections.

Avoid an accident at an intersection:

1. Pay attention to your surroundings. You need to look in every direction as you approach an intersection. Be aware that a tree, building or other cars could block your view. You want to look for traffic signals, signs, approaching vehicles and especially pedestrians. In 2019, 26% of pedestrian accident deaths occurred at intersections.
2. Be prepared to stop. You shouldn’t speed through intersections. You need to be prepared to stop your vehicle if you notice a pedestrian quickly entering the intersection or a vehicle that isn’t stopping or making an illegal turn.
3. Carefully enter an intersection after you have stopped. You might not realize that one of the biggest dangers at an intersection is after you’ve stopped for a red light or stop sign. You need to slowly enter an intersection when a light turns green or after stopping at a stop sign. Another vehicle may not be out of the intersection yet or may speed through a stop sign or traffic signal.
4. Maintain extra space between your car and the vehicle in front of you. Rear-end accidents are common near intersections, so you want to ensure you have enough space to stop quickly if you need to.
5. Use your turn signals. You want drivers around you to know where you are headed at an intersection. Make sure to use your turn signal if you are turning left, right or switching lanes as you approach an intersection.

Tips provided by the Federal Highway Administration