Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

A 26-year-old Staff Sergeant assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado, died in a PMV-2 mishap 22 July 2023 in Manitou Springs, Colorado, at 1455 local. The Soldier struck a guardrail and was ejected from his motorcycle. Colorado State Police (CSP) responded and pronounced the Soldier dead at the scene. The Soldier completed the Basic RiderCourse 25 March 2022 and was scheduled to attend the Advanced RiderCourse 17 August 2023. Reportedly, alcohol was not suspected as a contributing factor. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including speed and the Soldier’s use of personal protective equipment, are currently unknown. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for CSP to release its final report.

Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of 24 Soldiers a year to PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the 23rd PMV-2 fatality of FY23 and below the number of fatalities for the same time period last year.

A 23-year-old Sergeant assigned to Fort Stewart, Georgia, died in a PMV-4 mishap 21 July 2023 in Stockbridge, Georgia, at 1900 local. While traveling on I-75 near Atlanta, the Soldier and her family were involved in a vehicle accident that resulted in her death. The circumstances of the mishap are currently unknown, to include if other vehicles were involved or whether the occupants were wearing seat belts. It is also unknown if speed, drugs or alcohol were contributing factors. The division safety will provide updates as more information is provided.

Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 28th PMV-4 fatality of FY23 and above the number of fatalities for the same time 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 33-year-old Sergeant assigned to the United States Army Reserve, Clackamas, Oregon, died in a PMV-2 mishap 3 June 2023 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at 1930 local. The Soldier was riding his sport bike when he lost control and struck a guardrail. Emergency medical services responded and transported the Soldier to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Soldier had a valid state license, was current on all Army-mandated motorcycle training and was wearing a certified motorcycle helmet at the time of the mishap. The safety point of contact is awaiting the local law enforcement report and toxicology results.

Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of 24 Soldiers a year to PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the 22nd PMV-2 fatality of FY23 and below the number of fatalities for the same time period last year.

Safety tip

 

For more information on preventing off-duty PMV-2 mishaps, check out the Off-Duty Safety Awareness Presentation. The full presentation includes a section on PMV-2s, or you can view individual topics at https://safety.army.mil/ODSAP.
 

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