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Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

About Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

PLRs are intended to be used as an engagement tool for leaders to discuss the hazards and trends impacting Soldier safety and readiness. A PLR contains only basic information, as the investigation is ongoing, but provides sufficient background to allow leaders an opportunity to communicate risk at the Soldier level.

 

PLR 25-012 – PMV-4 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, PMV-4
A 22-year-old Specialist assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve in Windsor, New Hampshire, died in a PMV-4 mishap 13 November 2024 in Walpole, New Hampshire, at 1500 local. The Soldier was returning to his home of record from Battle Training Assembly when his vehicle crossed the centerline and collided with a school bus. Emergency services were called, and they pronounced him dead at the scene. Seat belt use, speed, alcohol or drug involvement is unknown.

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

Safety tip

Drowsy driving kills — but is preventable. Learn about the factors commonly associated with drowsy-driving crashes and pick up some helpful tips to avoid falling asleep at the wheel. In this section, you’ll also find several resources and learn what National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is doing to help eliminate this risky behavior.

Avoid Driving Drowsy

1. Occur most frequently between midnight and 6 a.m., or in the late afternoon. At both times of the day, people experience dips in their circadian rhythm — the human body’s internal clock that regulates sleep.

2. Often involve only a single driver (and no passengers) running off the road at a high rate of speed with no evidence of braking.

3. Frequently occur on rural roads and highways.

4. Getting adequate sleep on a daily basis is the only true way to protect yourself against the risks of driving when you’re drowsy. Experts urge consumers to make it a priority to get seven to eight hours of sleep per night. For more information on healthy sleep, see In Brief: Your Guide to Healthy Sleep (PDF, 1.81 MB) at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website.

5. Before the start of a long family car trip, get a good night’s sleep, or you could put your entire family and others at risk.

6. Many teens do not get enough sleep at a stage in life when their biological need for sleep increases, which makes them vulnerable to the risk of drowsy-driving crashes, especially on longer trips. Advise your teens to delay driving until they’re well-rested.

7. Avoid drinking any alcohol before driving. Consumption of alcohol interacts with sleepiness to increase drowsiness and impairment.

8. Always check your prescription and over-the-counter medication labels to see if drowsiness could result from their use.

9. If you take medications that could cause drowsiness as a side effect, use public transportation when possible.

10. If you drive, avoid driving during the peak sleepiness periods (midnight – 6 a.m. and late afternoon). If you must drive during the peak sleepiness periods, stay vigilant for signs of drowsiness, such as crossing over roadway lines or hitting a rumble strip, especially if you’re driving alone drinking coffee or energy drinks alone is not always enough. They might help you feel more alert, but the effects last only a short time, and you might not be as alert as you think you are. If you drink coffee and are seriously sleep deprived, you still may have “micro sleeps” or brief losses of consciousness that can last for four or five seconds. This means that at 55 miles per hour, you’ve traveled more than 100 yards down the road while asleep. That’s plenty of time to cause a crash.

11. If you start to get sleepy while you’re driving, drink one to two cups of coffee and pull over for a short 20-minute nap in a safe place, such as a lighted, designated rest stop. This has been shown to increase alertness in scientific studies, but only for short time periods.

Tips provided by NHTSA.
 

 

PLR 25-011 – PMV-4 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, PMV-4
A 19-year-old Private First Class assigned to Presidio, California, died in a PMV-4 mishap 10 November 2024 in Monterey, California, at 0947 local. The Soldier was involved in a traffic accident. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including the use of seat belts, speed or the involvement of alcohol, are currently unknown.

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

 

PLR 25-010 - Privately Owned Weapons Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, Privately Owned Weapons
A 24-year-old Staff Sergeant assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado, died in a privately owned weapons (POW) mishap 11 November 2024 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at 0050 local. The Soldier was attempting to demonstrate the effectiveness of his weapon’s safety feature when it unintentionally discharged. Colorado Springs Emergency Services responded to the incident. During transport to the hospital, the Soldier was pronounced dead. Local authorities are investigating the incident.

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

Safety tip

Never assume that proficiency with your assigned military weapon makes you an expert on all weapons. If you are handling a new weapon, read the owner’s manual carefully and take a class to get the proper training.

Never consume alcohol prior to or while handling weapons.

Take action if you see someone handling a weapon in any unsafe manner, especially while under the influence of alcohol.

Always THINK weapons safety:
 
  • Treat every weapon as if it is loaded.
  • Handle every weapon with care.
  • Identify the target before you fire.
  • Never point the muzzle at anything you don’t intend to shoot.
  • Keep the weapon on safe and your finger off the trigger until you intend to fire.

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

 

PLR 25-009 – On-Duty Sports, Recreation and Physical Training Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, Sports & Recreation
A 26-year-old Soldier assigned to Fort Stewart, Georgia, died in an off-duty sports, recreation and physical training mishap 8 November 2024 in Richmond Hill, Georgia, at 0224 local. While fishing from a dock, the Soldier jumped into the river to retrieve a loose crab trap. He was last seen submerging underwater. Fellow Soldiers attempted to locate him but were unsuccessful. The Soldiers immediately contacted local authorities and notified their chain of command. Local authorities recovered the Soldier and pronounced him dead at the scene.

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 first 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 the same time last year.

Safety tip

Fishing Dock Safety Tips:
 
  • Check the weather conditions. Stormy weather and thunderstorms are extremely dangerous if you’re out on the water but can be just as deadly for someone standing on a dock. If the weather seems rough, reschedule your fishing trip.
     
  • If the weather is appropriate for fishing, let someone close to you know about your fishing plans. Just in case something happens, it will be good for someone to know where you are and when you are expected to return.
     
  • Regardless of your swimming skills, always wear a properly fitted life jacket when you’re on the dock. It can be a lifesaver if you accidentally slip or fall into the water.
     
  • Be aware of unseen water hazards. Natural water bodies like rivers, lakes and oceans have many hidden hazards below the surface of the water that you can’t see such as swift currents, submerged trees, unexpected holes and steep drop-offs to name a few.
     

 

PLR 24-052 - PMV-2 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, PMV-2

A 28-year-old Sergeant assigned to Fort Liberty, North Carolina, died in a PMV-2 mishap in Fayetteville, North Carolina, at local. The Soldier was riding his motorcycle when he struck a guardrail. The Cotton Fire Rescue, Cumberland County Emergency Medical Services and North Carolina State Highway Patrol responded to the scene and transported the Soldier to the local medical center, where he was pronounced dead by the attending physician. The Soldier was wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment and involvement of alcohol is unknown. Completion of the required Motorcycle Safety Foundation training has not been verified. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for law enforcement to release its final report.

Since FY19, the Army has lost an average of 28 Soldiers a year to PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap was the 20th PMV-2 fatality of FY24 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

 

 

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