Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

A 22-year-old Specialist assigned to Camp Merrill, Georgia, died in a PMV-4 mishap 20 May 2023 at 0200 local. The Soldier was driving back to the barracks from another Soldier's home when his vehicle exited the road while he was negotiating a curve at a high rate of speed. The vehicle became airborne, overturned and contacted multiple trees before hitting a larger tree, causing the vehicle to rotate before landing in a ditch. The Soldier was the sole occupant in the vehicle. Emergency medical services arrived and pronounced him dead at the scene. The Soldier was wearing his seat belt at the time of the mishap. The safety point of contact is awaiting the toxicology report.

Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 18th PMV-4 fatality of FY23 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

Safety tip
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration speeding endangers everyone on the road. In 2021, speeding killed 12,330 people. We all know the frustrations of modern life and juggling a busy schedule, but speed limits are put in place to protect all road users. Learn about the dangers of speeding and why faster doesn’t mean safer.

Dangers of speeding
For more than two decades, speeding has been involved in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities. In 2021, speeding was a contributing factor in 29% of all traffic fatalities.

Speed also affects your safety even when you are driving at the speed limit but too fast for road conditions, such as during bad weather, when a road is under repair, or in an area at night that isn’t well lit.

Speeding endangers not only the life of the speeder, but all people on the road around them, including law enforcement officers. It is a problem we all need to help solve.

Alcohol
Every day about 37 people in the United States die in drunk driving crashes — that's one person every 39 minutes. In 2021, 13,384 people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic deaths — a 14% increase from 2020. These deaths were all preventable.

How alcohol affects driving ability
Alcohol is a substance that reduces the function of the brain, impairing thinking, reasoning and muscle coordination. All these abilities are essential to operating a vehicle safely.

As alcohol levels rise in a person’s system, the negative effects on the central nervous system increase. Alcohol is absorbed directly through the walls of the stomach and small intestine. Then it passes into the bloodstream where it accumulates until it is metabolized by the liver. A person's alcohol level is measured by the weight of the alcohol in a certain volume of blood. This is called blood alcohol concentration (BAC). A BAC of .08 grams of alcohol per deciliter (g/dL) of blood, crash risk increases exponentially. Because of this risk, it’s illegal in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher, except in Utah where the BAC limit is .05.

However, even a small amount of alcohol can affect driving ability. In 2021, there were 2,266 people killed in alcohol-related crashes where a driver had a BAC of .01 to .07 g/dL.

 

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A 24-year-old Specialist assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, died in a PMV-4 mishap 19 May 2023 at 0610 local. The Soldier was traveling westbound when his vehicle crossed the centerline and continued through the left side of the road, where it eventually crashed into a tree. It was reported that excessive speed was a contributor to the mishap. The Soldier was pronounced dead at the scene. Alcohol or drug use is not suspected at this time. The safety point of contact is awaiting more information.

Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 17th PMV-4 fatality of FY23 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

Safety tip
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding endangers everyone on the road. In 2020, speeding killed 11,258 people. We all know the frustrations of modern life and juggling a busy schedule, but speed limits are put in place to protect all road users.

For more than two decades, speeding has been involved in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities. In 2020, speeding was a contributing factor in 29% of all traffic fatalities.

Speed also affects your safety even when you are driving at the speed limit but too fast for road conditions, such as during bad weather, when a road is under repair or in an area at night that isn’t well lit.

What drives speeding?
Speeding is a type of aggressive driving behavior. Several factors have contributed to an overall rise in aggressive driving:

• Traffic — Traffic congestion is one of the most frequently mentioned contributing factors to aggressive driving, such as speeding. Drivers may respond by using aggressive driving behaviors, including speeding, changing lanes frequently or becoming angry at anyone who they believe impedes their progress.


• Running late — Some people drive aggressively because they have too much to do and are running late for work, school, their next meeting, a soccer game or other appointments.


• Anonymity — A motor vehicle insulates the driver from the world. Shielded from the outside environment, a driver can develop a sense of detachment, as if an observer of their surroundings rather than a participant. This can lead to some people feeling less constrained in their behavior when they cannot be seen by others and/or when it is unlikely they will ever again see those who witness their behavior.


• Disregard for others and the law — Most motorists rarely drive aggressively, and some never do. For others, episodes of aggressive driving are frequent, and for a small proportion of motorists, it is their usual driving behavior. Occasional episodes of aggressive driving — such as speeding and changing lanes abruptly — might occur in response to specific situations, like when the driver is late for an important appointment, but is not the driver’s normal behavior.

Dealing with speeding and aggressive drivers
Speeding behavior and aggressive drivers may not only affect the speeder — it can also affect other drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists. Here are some tips for encountering speeders on the road:

• If you are in the left lane and someone wants to pass, move over and let them by.


• Give speeding drivers plenty of space. Speeding drivers may lose control of their vehicle more easily.


• Adjust your driving accordingly. Speeding is tied to aggressive driving. If a speeding driver is tailgating you or trying to engage you in risky driving, use judgment to safely steer your vehicle out of the way.


• Call the police if you believe a driver is following you or harassing you.

 

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A 34-year-old Staff Sergeant assigned to Fort Gordon, Georgia, died in a PMV-4 mishap that occurred 26 April 2023 in Laurinburg, at 1200 local. It was reported the Soldier’s vehicle was struck by another civilian vehicle and pushed into the path of an oncoming semi-truck. He was transported to the local medical center, admitted to the Intensive Care Unit for further treatment, and placed in an induced coma. Seven days later, the Soldier succumbed to his injuries. The Soldier was wearing his seat belt; speed and the involvement of alcohol were not contributing factors. The unit/safety points of contact are awaiting further documentation and updates from the investigation.

Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 16th PMV-4 fatality of FY23 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

 

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A 21-year-old Specialist assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, died in a PMV-4 mishap 15 April 2023 in Vermillion, Ohio, at 0319 local. Soldier No. 1 (driver) was driving with Soldier No. 2 (passenger) when he failed to navigate a curve, resulting in the vehicle crossing the divider, striking a pole and crashing into a home. The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) responded to the scene., and both Soldiers were transported to the local hospital. Soldier No. 1 was pronounced dead upon arrival, while Soldier No. 2 is currently in critical condition on a ventilator. Soldier No. 1 was not wearing his seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle. The OSHP suspect speed and alcohol were contributing factors to this mishap. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for OSHP to release its final report.

Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 15th PMV-4 fatality of FY23 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

One of the safest choices drivers and passengers can make is to buckle up. Many Americans understand the lifesaving value of the seat belt – the national use rate was at 91.6% in 2022. Seat belt use in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 14,955 lives in 2017. Understand the potentially fatal consequences of not wearing a seat belt and learn what you can do to make sure you and your family are properly buckled up every time.

The Top 5 Things You Should Know About Buckling Up

1. Buckling up is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash

Seat belts are the best defense against impaired, aggressive and distracted drivers. Being buckled up during a crash helps keep you safe and secure inside your vehicle; being completely ejected from a vehicle is almost always deadly.

2. Air bags are designed to work with seat belts, not replace them

If you don’t wear your seat belt, you could be thrown into a rapidly opening frontal air bag. Such force could injure or even kill you. Learn about air bag safety.

3. Guidelines to buckle up safely

• The lap belt and shoulder belt are secured across the pelvis and rib cage, which are better able to withstand crash forces than other parts of your body.
• Place the shoulder belt across the middle of your chest and away from your neck.
• The lap belt rests across your hips, not your stomach.
• Never put the shoulder belt behind your back or under an arm.

4. Fit matters

• Before you buy a new car, check to see that its seat belts are a good fit for you.
• Ask your dealer about seat belt adjusters, which can help you get the best fit.
• If you need a roomier belt, contact your vehicle manufacturer to obtain seat belt extenders.
• If you drive an older or classic car with lap belts only, check with your vehicle manufacturer about how to retrofit your car with today’s safer lap/shoulder belts.

5. Seat belt safety for children and pregnant women

Find out when your child is ready to use an adult seat belt and learn about seat belt safety when you’re pregnant.

Tips from NHTSA

 

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A 22-year-old Sergeant assigned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, died in a PMV-4 mishap 15 April 2023 in Oakwood, Oklahoma, at 1530 local. The Soldier was traveling southbound when a civilian vehicle crossed the centerline and collided with his vehicle. Initial reports indicate the civilian driver may have fallen asleep. Currently, there is no indication that drugs or alcohol contributed to the mishap. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) responded and pronounced the Soldier dead at the scene. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting the OHP to release its final report.

Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 14th PMV-4 fatality of FY23 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

Head-on motor vehicle collisions are deadly. In 2019, they were responsible for nearly 30% of the 16,700 U.S. roadway deaths that resulted from crashes with other vehicles, according to the National Safety Council (NSC).

You can help prevent a potential head-on collision before it occurs. The NSC has developed a lifesaving method for drivers to use – the four R’s.

• Read the road ahead. Scan ahead to the top of the next hill, curve or intersection to recognize hazards. This will help you see and react faster if an oncoming vehicle crosses the centerline. Also, check the shoulder of the road to see if you’ve got room to pull over. Watch the space between the left-front tire of any approaching vehicle and the centerline. If the spacing is becoming smaller, that vehicle may be about to stray into your lane.


• Drive to the right. Drive slightly to the right of center of your lane to create an extra space between you and other vehicles. On multi-lane roadways, leave one lane to the left open. When facing a head-on collision, drive onto the right shoulder. Never swerve into the left lane. If the other driver instinctively pulls their vehicle back into the proper lane, you’ll have a collision in that lane.


• Reduce your speed. If you see a hazard ahead, immediately reduce your speed. This gives you extra time and gives the oncoming driver time to recover and move back into the correct lane. Don’t slam on the brakes or swerve. And never stop your vehicle. If you stop completely, you may be struck from behind – and potentially be pushed forward into the oncoming vehicle.


• Ride off the road. If you must choose between a head-on collision and riding onto the shoulder, your chances of survival are much better on the shoulder. If you must hit something, steer your vehicle to hit the object with a glancing blow rather than head-on. Every inch off center reduces the impact of the collision – and increases your chance for survival.
  
  Tips from NSC Safety + Health
  
   

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