Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

A Specialist assigned to Fort Cavazos, Texas, died in a PMV-4 mishap 1 February 2025 in Burnet County, Texas, at 1330 local. The Soldier was involved in a head-on collision and airlifted to Dell Seton Medical Center for critical trauma treatment. He was pronounced dead after arrival. Seat belt use, speed and alcohol or drug involvement are currently unknown.

Since FY20, the Army has lost an average of 36 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 11th PMV-4 fatality of FY25 and below the number of fatalities for this same time last year.

A Private assigned to Fort Cavazos, Texas, died in a PMV-2 mishap 25 January 2025 in Killeen, Texas, at 1350 local. The Soldier was operating his motorcycle when he collided with another vehicle at an intersection. The Killeen Police Department (KPD) responded and pronounced him dead at the scene. According to the KPD, the Soldier was wearing all his personal protective equipment, but he had not completed the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Basic RiderCourse. Speed, alcohol or drug involvement are currently unknown.

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

Safety tip

Motorcycle risk rates are typically higher than those for cars, highlighting their relative vulnerability. Several factors, including accident statistics, injury severity and fatality rates, contribute to this distinction. Motorcyclists face a 29 times higher fatality rate per mile traveled compared to car occupants, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This considerable risk underscores the importance of understanding the metrics influencing these rates.

Factors affecting risk rates for motorcycles often involve rider behavior, environmental conditions and vehicle design. Speeding and alcohol use are common contributors to accidents. Road conditions such as potholes or slippery surfaces further escalate risk. Additionally, motorcycles lack certain safety features like seat belts and air bags found in cars, which significantly impacts injury severity in crashes.

Insurance companies use these risk rates to calculate premium costs. Higher risk is directly linked to increased insurance premiums. Understanding these elements allows you to take proactive steps in reducing personal risk. Safety measures such as wearing helmets, taking defensive driving courses and equipping motorcycles with anti-lock braking systems can mitigate many associated dangers.

By focusing on safety and understanding how risk rates are structured, you can make more informed decisions and reduce the likelihood of accidents while enjoying the thrill of motorcycling.

Factors influencing risk rates - understanding risk rates involves evaluating several elements. Each factor can significantly impact your safety and the likelihood of accidents.

Rider Experience
Experienced riders can navigate complex situations more effectively. However, new riders might lack the skills necessary to manage high-risk scenarios. Consider engaging in motorcycle training programs that improve your maneuvering and judgment abilities, reducing accident likelihood.

Motorcycle Type
The design and power of your motorcycle affect its risk level. Sport bikes, known for high speeds, often correlate with higher accident rates. In contrast, touring bikes provide more stability and may reduce risk. Choose a model that matches your riding style and comfort level to help manage risk.

Road Conditions
Road conditions play a crucial role in risk rates. Wet, icy or poorly maintained roads increase the chances of accidents. Stay informed about weather and road reports and plan your routes accordingly. Properly assessing environmental factors can significantly improve your safety.

Tips provided by NHTSA.

A Sergeant assigned to Fort Cavazos, Texas, died in a PMV-4 mishap 22 January 2025 outside the gate of Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, at 0845 local. The Soldier was driving his vehicle when it departed the roadway, overturned and struck a tree. According to reports, he was not wearing a seat belt. The involvement of speed, alcohol or drugs is currently unknown.

Since FY20, the Army has lost an average of 36 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 10th PMV-4 fatality of FY25 and below to the number of PMV-4 fatalities for this same time last year. 

Safety tip

In 2024, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that 7% of passenger vehicle occupants killed were unrestrained. This is down from the first half of 2023, when the rate was higher.

Seat belts save lives

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 91.9% in 2023. Of those killed at night in 2022, 57% were unrestrained. 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 consequences of not wearing, or improperly wearing, a seat belt are clear:

If someone told you there’s a secret to significantly cutting your chance of a fatal injury in a motor vehicle crash, you’d want to know it, right?

1. Buckling up helps keep you safe and secure inside your vehicle, whereas not buckling up can result in being totally ejected from the vehicle in a crash, which is almost always deadly.
2. Airbags are not enough to protect you; in fact, the force of an airbag can seriously injure or even kill you if you’re not buckled up.
3. Improperly wearing a seat belt, such as putting the strap below your arm, puts you and your children at risk in a crash.
4. On average, every 47 minutes, someone not wearing a seat belt dies in a car crash.
5. Seat belt use is the most effective way to stay alive in a crash.
6. Wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of moderate to critical injury by 50% in the front seat of a passenger car.
7. Wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of death by 60% and the risk of injury by 65% in a pickup truck.
8. In the instant you buckle up before driving or riding in the front seat of a car or truck, you cut your risk of a fatal injury in a crash nearly in half. That’s a huge return on the investment of the mere seconds it takes to put on a seat belt.

Tips provided by NHTSA.

A Master Sergeant assigned to Fort Liberty, North Carolina, died in a privately owned weapons (POW) mishap 3 January 2025 in Pinehurst, North Carolina, at 2000 local. The deceased Soldier’s spouse was cleaning his weapon when it discharged. The round passed through a wall in their family home striking the Soldier.

Since FY20, the Army has lost an average of two Soldiers a year to POW mishaps. This mishap was the fourth POW fatality of FY25 and above the number of POW fatalities for the same time last year.

Safety tip

When cleaning your weapons:

Verify that the weapon is unloaded - remove any detachable magazines, empty the chamber and remove any ammunition from the area.

Read and follow your owner’s manual - even if you think you “know what you’re doing” make sure you fully read and follow the manual for that particular firearm. Every design has its own quirks and nuances around safety operation and disassembly. It’s your responsibility to know your firearm!

Avoid distractions - Pay full attention to what you’re doing, and don’t clean or perform other maintenance on your firearm while watching TV or doing anything else that can take your mind away from the task at hand.

Maintain muzzle awareness - treat every weapon as if it is loaded and always keep it pointed in a safe direction.

Never consume alcohol or drugs before or while handling a weapon – alcohol along with some over the counter or prescriptions drugs can impair normal mental and physical functioning.

For more information on privately owned weapons safety go to: https://safety.army.mil/OFF-DUTY/Privately-Owned-Weapons

A 27-year-old Sergeant assigned to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, died in a Privately Owned Weapons (POW) mishap 22 December 2024 on the installation at 1300 local. The Soldier was driving his personal vehicle when a hunter fired at a deer across the road. The round passed through the driver’s side door, striking the Soldier.

Since FY20, the Army has lost an average of two Soldiers a year to POW mishaps. This mishap was the third POW fatality of FY25 and above the number of POW fatalities for the same time last year.