X

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 24-021 - PMV-4 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, PMV-4

A 21-year-old Private First Class assigned to Fort Liberty, North Carolina, died in a PMV-4 mishap at local. The Soldier was operating her vehicle when she struck a barrier at an unused access control point. Another Soldier driving came upon the mishap site and notified 911. Fort Liberty emergency medical services arrived on scene and transported the Soldier to the local hospital. Upon arrival, the Soldier was pronounced dead. Speed and alcohol were reported as contributing factors. It is unknown if the Soldier was wearing her seat belt. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for local law enforcement to release its final report.

Since FY19, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 10th fatality of FY24 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

Safety tip

Speeding is a major factor in traffic deaths and injuries. The role of speeding in crashes is described in terms of its effect on the driver, the vehicle and the road. Excessive speeding reduces the amount of time the driver has to react in a dangerous situation to avoid a crash, increases vehicle stopping distance, and reduces the ability of road safety structures (such as guardrails, impact attenuators, crash cushions, median dividers and concrete barriers) to protect vehicle occupants in a crash.

Speeding was a factor in 29% of all traffic fatalities in , killing 12,330, or an average of over 33 people per day. The total number of fatal motor-vehicle crashes attributable to speeding was 11,057. A crash is considered speeding-related if the driver was charged with a speeding-related offense or if racing, driving too fast for conditions or exceeding the posted speed limit was indicated as a contributing factor in the crash.

is the third consecutive year with an increase of speeding-related deaths. In addition, the percent of deaths involving speeding (29%) is above the historic low set in when 26% of deaths involved speeding. Speeding-related deaths increased 7.9% from and were the most deaths recorded since .

The proportion of speeding-related crashes to all fatal crashes in decreased as the age of the driver increased. The proportion of female drivers who were speeding is smaller than male drivers across all age groups. Young male drivers in the 15-20 and 21-24 year age groups were the most likely to be speeding at the time of fatal crashes. In , at least 31% of male drivers in these age groups that were involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time of the crash, compared to 19% of female drivers in these two youngest age groups.

Alcohol-impaired driving continues to be one of the biggest safety issues on U.S. roads. In , 13,384 people were killed in alcohol-impaired crashes, an increase of 14.2% from the 11,718 deaths in and the most deaths recorded since . Alcohol-impaired driving crashes involve at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or higher.

About 16% of drivers in fatal crashes who test positive for alcohol fall below the 0.08 g/dL BAC legal limit. About half of the drivers in fatal crashes that test positive for alcohol have BACs of 0.16 g/dL or higher. The prevalence of positive BAC levels peak at the 0.16 and 1.17 g/dL levels and steadily decline as BAC levels increase.

Speeding and alcohol impairment often coincide; this varies with driver age. While 24% of speeding drivers under age 21 involved in fatal crashes are alcohol impaired (BAC = 0.08+ g/dL), 40% or more in the 21 to 54 age groups are impaired. The percent of alcohol-impaired drivers falls sharply to 33% among 55-64-year-old drivers and continues to decline as the driver’s age increases.

Data provide by National Safety Council and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

 

 

PLR 24-020 - PMV-4 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, PMV-4

A 40-year-old Active Guard Reserve First Sergeant assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve, Vallejo, California, on operational support orders died in a PMV-4 mishap in Stockton, California, at local. The Soldier was driving his van in the northbound lane when a tire detached from a concrete pumping trailer that was being towed by a 2019 Chevrolet pickup truck in the southbound lane. As a result, the trailer tire crossed over the guardrail and struck the front of the Soldier’s van. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded and pronounced the Soldier dead at the scene. The Soldier’s wife and three children were transported to the local hospital for minor injuries and discharged. According to CHP alcohol or drugs are not considered to be a factor.

Since FY19, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the ninth fatality of FY24 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

 

 

PLR 24-019 - PMV-2 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

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

A Specialist assigned to Fort Shafter, Hawaii, died in a PMV-2 mishap in Oahu, Hawaii, at local. The Soldier reportedly was involved in a motorcycle accident. Local law enforcement responded to the scene and discovered the Soldier dead. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including details about the mishap sequence, completion of the required Motorcycle Safety Foundation training, proper licensing, speed, use of personal protective equipment or alcohol, are currently unknown. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for local 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 eighth PMV-2 fatality of FY24 and above the number of fatalities for the same time period last year.

 

 

PLR 24-018 - PMV-4 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, PMV-4

A 43-year-old Active Guard Reserve Sergeant First Class assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve, Kansas City, Missouri, died in a PMV-4 mishap at local. The Soldier reportedly was traveling on the interstate when his vehicle was hit head on by another vehicle that crossed into his lane. The Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) responded and pronounced the Soldier dead at the scene. The involvement of speed, use of alcohol and seat belts are unknown at this time. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for KHP to release its final report.

Since FY19, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the eighth fatality of FY24 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

Safety tip

Head-on motor vehicle collisions are deadly. Since 2019, head-on collisions have been the cause of nearly 30% of roadway deaths with other vehicles, according to the National Safety Council.

Read the road ahead. Scan ahead to watch for hazards on the road a few miles ahead whenever possible. The sooner you notice something wrong on the road ahead, the greater the reaction time, such as 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. When possible, always drive slightly to the right of the center of your lane to create extra space between you and other vehicles. On multi-lane roadways, leave one lane to the left open. If facing a head-on collision, drive right onto the shoulder. Never swerve into the left lane. If the other driver instinctively pulls their vehicle back into the proper lane, you may experience a collision in the other lane.

Reduce your speed. If you see a hazard ahead, immediately reduce your speed. This allows extra time to react to a potential road hazard and gives the oncoming driver time to recover and return to the correct lane. Don't slam on the brakes or swerve to avoid a head-on collision. If you stop abruptly, you may be struck from behind – and potentially 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 cannot avoid hitting another vehicle, try to steer your vehicle closer to the shoulder so that instead of colliding head-on with the other vehicle, you may only sideswipe one another. Every inch off center reduces the impact of the collision – and increases your chance for survival.

Tips provided by the National Safety Council.

 

 

PLR 24-017 - PMV-2 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

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

A Private assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas, died in a PMV-2 mishap in El Paso, Texas, at local. The Soldier was involved in a single-vehicle motorcycle accident and was pronounced dead at the scene. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including details of the mishap sequence, use of personal protective equipment or alcohol, are currently unknown. 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 seventh PMV-2 fatality of FY24 and above the number of fatalities for the same time period last year.

 

 

123578910Last