Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

A Specialist assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky died in a government motor vehicle (GMV) mishap 16 December 2021, at 0156 local. A field litter ambulance drove over two sleeping Soldiers in a non-designated and unmarked sleeping area, resulting in one Soldier fatality and another Soldier suffering non-fatal injuries.

Since 2017, the Army has experienced an average of 10 GMV fatalities per year. This was the second GMV fatality of FY22 and above the number of GMV fatalities during the same time period last year.


Tips:

- Ensure sleeping area perimeters are designated and marked as tactical situation permits (ChemLight, engineer tape).
- Select sleeping areas protected by natural obstacles when possible.
- Ensure Soldiers do not sleep outside of designated marked sleeping areas or in/under vehicles.
- Post a sleeping area guard to warn vehicle crews of troops on the ground.
- Establish dismount points beyond which vehicles may not move without ground guides.
- Ensure ground guides use flashlights to direct vehicles when visibility is reduced.
- Ensure vehicle commander walks completely around vehicle prior to movement to check for personnel clearance and other hazards in the vicinity.

 

A Specialist assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, died in a government motor vehicle (GMV) mishap 17 June 2021 on the installation. During a vehicle movement to the heavy demolitions range, an M1088 FMTV with an attached trailer collided with the rear portion of the lead High-Mobility Engineer Excavator Type 1 (HMEE-I) vehicle. The collision caused significant damage to the front of the M1088, which resulted in non-life-threatening injuries to the truck commander and fatal injuries to the driver. The driver of the HMEE-I also received non-life-threatening injuries. There were no other occupants or passengers in the vehicles and no external witnesses to the mishap. The U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center is leading a safety investigation into the mishap.

Since 2016, the Army has experienced an average of 12 GMV mishaps per year. This mishap was the fourth GMV fatality of FY21 and below the number of similar mishaps during the same time period last year.


Tactical motor vehicle mishaps are the number one on-duty killer of ground-based Soldiers.
Mishaps commonly occur while traveling to or from a range or other event. Ensure your risk assessment addresses hazards and control measures related to vehicle movement to and from the range/event. Critical issues to address include:

- Drivers trained in accordance with Army Regulation 600-55 – ensure they are trained and licensed on the specific vehicle/variant and appropriately supervised.
- Convoy procedures – pay particular attention to convoy speeds, following intervals and visibility.
- Fatigue – ensure vehicle operators have adequate rest before conducting a mission.
- Real-time risk assessment – new risks can arise unexpectedly during mission execution; leaders must continually assess hazards, develop controls and make risk decisions.

Rehearsals, pre-combat checks and pre-combat inspections are key factors for mission success.
The Joint Risk Assessment Tool (JRAT) contains more information and will assist you with the development of your deliberate risk management worksheet: https://jrat.safety.army.mil

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A Sergeant First Class assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, died in a GMV mishap 9 November 2020 on the installation at 1101 local. The Soldier was riding her motorcycle when she collided with a HMMWV occupied by three Soldiers. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The Soldiers in the HMMWV were taken to a local medical center for non-fatal injuries. The deceased Soldier completed all required Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses. The use of personal protective equipment is unknown at this time. Fort Bragg law enforcement personnel are reconstructing the scene to determine the cause and any contributing factors that may have led to the accident.

Since 2016, the Army has lost an average of 12 Soldiers a year to GMV mishaps. This mishap is the first GMV fatality of FY21 and below the number of fatalities for the same time period last year.

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A 21-year-old Private First Class assigned to Fort Irwin, California, died in an Army motor vehicle mishap 9 March 2020 at the National Training Center
during daylight hours. The Soldier was driving an M1113 HMMWV when he struck a winch cable that a Rotational Training Unit had stretched across the roadway to extricate an M978A4 fuel tanker with a Palletized Load System trailer carrying a modular fuel system. He was fatally injured and the truck commander was medically evacuated with non-life-threatening injuries. The USACRC is leading a safety investigation into the mishap.

Since FY16, the Army has lost an average of 12 Soldiers a year to AMV mishaps. This was the second fatal AMV mishap of FY20 and below the number of fatalities for the same time period last year. Remember, risk management is most effective when it's dynamic and adapts to changes in mission and environment.

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A Second Lieutenant assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia, died 3 February 2020 as a result of injuries sustained in an Army combat vehicle mishap that occurred 22 January 2020 on the installation at 1420 local. The Soldier was serving as tank commander in an M1 tank when the vehicle struck a tree, causing a limb to fall and strike him on the head. The Soldier was transported via air medevac to the local hospital, where he later died. The USACRC is leading a safety investigation into the mishap.

Historically, the Army loses 12 Soldiers a year to Army vehicle mishaps. This was the fourth fatal Army vehicle mishap in FY20. While the Army is below the eight Army vehicle fatalities for the same time period in FY19, the nature of this mishap should be a reminder of how quickly routine training events can become deadly.

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