Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

A Private assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia, died in a PMV-4 mishap 5 July 2021 in Hamilton County, Tennessee. At approximately 0800, the Tennessee Highway Patrol responded to a single-vehicle accident on I-75. Emergency medical service personnel arrived and pronounced the Soldier dead at the scene at 0810. The Soldier was positively identified by his military ID and driver’s license. He was transported to the local county medical examiner’s office for an autopsy. Initial reports state the cause of the mishap was a tire from another vehicle breaking free and striking the Soldier’s vehicle. The safety/unit points of contact are waiting for local law enforcement to release their report.

Since 2016, the Army has lost an average of 33 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 32nd PMV-4 fatality of FY21.


Six Common Obstacles on the Roadway and Tips to Avoid Them:

1. A Deer in the Headlights:
The number of drivers involved in accidents caused by deer on the roadways is growing every single year. As we humans spread into previously uninhabited forests, wildlife such as deer are bound to be found meandering down roads. Surprisingly, many accidents involving deer take place in suburban areas and small towns. Don’t think that you are safe from the deer dilemma just because you live miles from anything rural. Watch out for deer on a blind curve. The danger of colliding with a deer is heightened in the early hours of morning and the hours surrounding sunset, these times being most popular for deer to be mobile. If you see a deer on the road ahead, slow down as much as possible. If you are already very close to the animal when you notice it, do not slam on your brakes. This may cause your vehicle to skid or the car behind you to rear-end your vehicle. Instead, firmly grip the steering wheel and brace yourself for the impact. If you hit the animal, pull over as soon as you can to check for any damage to your car and recover from the collision. If the animal is still alive, you may need to call local law enforcement for assistance.

2. UFOs on the Roads:
Unidentified flying objects are common occurrences on roadways, particularly highways and interstates where vehicles travel at high speeds. Imagine you are enjoying your pleasant commute when something unexpectedly flies toward your windshield. Whether it is a bag of garbage, piece of lumber, 12-foot ladder, fast food bag, or large bird, these random objects are cause for panic in many drivers. When you are driving at high speeds, even something as harmless as an empty grocery bag can startle you as it flies toward your windshield. Do you best to remain calm if you suddenly see something coming toward your vehicle. If you identify the object as dangerous, such as a large limb or piece of metal, quickly evaluate the traffic around you, then make an attempt to avoid the object if it is safe to do so. If a large object is lying on the road, try to steer your vehicle so that your wheels straddle it as you pass. If something hits your car and you suspect damage has occurred, pull over as soon as possible and call local law enforcement to file an accident report.

3. SMVs:
Slow-moving vehicles are an official category of vehicles that can be found on many types of roadways. An SMV is any type of vehicle that is not able to travel over a particular speed. In most states, this speed is 30 mph. You never know what type of SMV you can bump into. While these vehicles are not allowed on interstate highways, they are legally allowed to travel on all other roadways, so it is likely that you will encounter an SMV from time to time. Some examples of SMVs include: horse-drawn carriages in cities, tractors or farm equipment, vehicles used for road construction and maintenance, golf carts or small electronic passenger vehicles, mowers and wagons used as transportation by some cultural groups. All SMVs are required to display a bright-orange reflective triangle outlined in dark red to warn drivers that they travel at slow speeds. If you encounter an SMV, make sure to maintain a safe distance, especially if the vehicle is being powered by livestock. Most SMVs will allow traffic to pass them from time to time.

4. Speed Bumps:
Although it is widely accepted by automobile safety experts that speed bumps save lives by warning drivers to slow down, many consider them to be a nuisance. If you see a speed bump ahead, slow your vehicle considerably before you reach it to prevent being jostled and your car from sustaining damage.

5. Pedestrians:
People are the most important obstacle to avoid. Make sure that you watch out for pedestrians at all times, not only when you are driving over a marked crosswalk. Always yield right of way to pedestrians. Wait until they have completely cleared the road before continuing.

6. Pets:
Especially in suburban areas or on neighborhood streets, dogs and cats can be common obstacles. While you should never put yourself in danger of having a wreck to avoid hitting someone’s pet, there are several measures that drivers can take to avoid hitting beloved dogs and cats. First, slow down in these areas. Where there are freely roaming pets, there are often people. Drivers should watch out for both. Also, periodically scan either side of neighborhood streets for approaching animals. If you do make contact with a pet, it is common courtesy to assist the animal and make every effort to contact its owner.

Remember that you are never driving your vehicle in a bubble. There are all kinds of obstacles that can appear in your path and you must be prepared to navigate them. Obeying the posted speed limit and staying alert while driving will go a long way in preventing your vehicle from making contact with any of these common obstacles.

(Source: https://driving-tests.org/beginner-drivers/how-to-avoid-obstacles-on-the-roadway/)

ANALYZE IT   |   TRAIN IT   |   DOWNLOAD PDF

A Private First Class assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, died in a sports, recreation and physical training mishap 10 July 2021 at 1720 local. The Soldier was at a lake with a group of people, when he began swimming approximately 100-150 meters from shore to retrieve a floatation toy. He was seen flailing his arms before he submerged beneath the surface. Another Soldier dove in to save him but was unable to locate the body. The water in that area contained a large amount of aquatic hydrilla grass, which significantly decreased visibility and formed a swimming hazard. Emergency service personnel were dispatched to the scene at 1730 and began a thorough search, using boats, sonar and divers. The search was halted at 2130 hours due to darkness and complications from the dense vegetation. The search resumed the following morning at 0800. The Soldier’s body was not located until 12 July at 1120. Initial reports indicate the Soldier was not under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance at the time of the drowning.

Since FY16, the Army has lost an average of 12 Soldiers a year to off-duty sports, recreation and physical training mishaps. This tragedy was the fifth fatal off-duty sports, recreation and physical training mishap of FY21.



Before entering or being around the water, keep these things in mind because they could save your life or the life of someone you care about.

Expect the unexpected – Accidents can happen within seconds, so always be prepared for the unexpected. If you jump into water that is colder than 70 degrees, you can inhale water from involuntary gasping, hyperventilation, panic and sometimes vertigo that can cause you to drown.

Know your swimming abilities – Be aware that swimming in natural waters such as a lake, river or pond is different from swimming in a pool, and your swimming ability decreases with age. It is never too late to take swimming lessons and learn to swim well. Several people every year drown while swimming to retrieve boats and toys. Let those go because they are not worth losing your life over.

Choose swimming areas carefully – Murky lake and river water can hide sharp or slippery rocks, uneven or unstable logs, and “strainers” or underwater branches and root systems that can easily catch your feet. These are constantly changing in unpredictable ways.

Alcohol and water are a deadly combination – Alcohol induces an inner ear condition (caloric labyrinthitis) that can cause you to become disoriented when underwater and not realize which way is up. If you jump or fall in the water, you can become disoriented and swim down instead of up to safety, causing you to drown. This can more likely happen if you have been consuming alcohol.

ANALYZE IT   |   TRAIN IT   |   DOWNLOAD PDF

Two Privates assigned to the Army Reserve, Tupelo, Mississippi, on battle assembly orders died in a pedestrian mishap 9 July 2021 in New Albany, Mississippi, at 0800 local. Four Army Reserve Soldiers were traveling on Interstate 22 near Myrtle and New Albany, Mississippi, en route to battle assembly when one of the Soldiers experienced a flat tire on her vehicle. Two other Soldiers stopped to render assistance in changing the tire and were both struck by a vehicle. The two Soldiers were dead when Mississippi Highway Patrol arrived on scene.

Since 2016, the Army has lost an average of seven Soldiers a year to pedestrian/non-motorist mishaps. This mishap resulted in the fifth and sixth pedestrian/non-motorist fatalities of FY21.


When dealing with a flat tire on the highway:

Pull over and out of traffic if possible — Even if all of the emergency lights are activated, some highway drivers do not pay close attention and could rear-end the disabled vehicle, causing further damage or injury.

Alert other drivers — Once off the road, put out reflectorized triangles behind your vehicle to alert other drivers. Keep your emergency flashers on. Keep as much distance as possible between you and the disabled vehicle until traffic has been diverted around it.

Tackle changing a tire only if you can do so without placing yourself in danger — If you know how to change a tire, have the equipment and can do it safely without being near traffic, change the tire as you normally would.

Remember that being safe must take precedence over your schedule or whatever other concerns you may have. Changing a tire with traffic whizzing past can be nerve-wracking at best and dangerous at worst. Therefore, it may be best to get professional help if you have a tire problem or other breakdown on a multi-lane highway.

ANALYZE IT   |   TRAIN IT   |   DOWNLOAD PDF

A Specialist assigned to the Army National Guard, Thibodaux, Louisiana, activated under Title 10 orders to support the Southwest border mission, died in a pedestrian mishap 10 July 2021 in McAllen, Texas, at 0330 local. The Soldier was crossing a road when he was struck by multiple civilian vehicles. He was pronounced dead at the scene. There were no other casualties reported. The specific circumstances of the mishap are unknown at this time.

Since 2016, the Army has lost an average of seven Soldiers a year to pedestrian/non-motorist mishaps. This mishap was the fourth pedestrian/non-motorist fatality of FY21.


Pedestrian Safety Tips:

1. Be predictable. Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.

2. Walk on sidewalks whenever they are available.

3. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.

4. Keep alert at all times; don’t be distracted by electronic devices that take your eyes (and ears) off the road.

5. Whenever possible, cross streets at crosswalks or intersections, where drivers expect pedestrians. Look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right.

6. If a crosswalk or intersection is not available, locate a well-lit area where you have the best view of traffic. Wait for a gap in traffic that allows enough time to cross safely; continue watching for traffic as you cross.

7. Never assume a driver sees you. Make eye contact with drivers as they approach to make sure you are seen.

8. Be visible at all times. Wear bright clothing during the day, and wear reflective materials or use a flashlight at night.

9. Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways, or backing up in parking lots.

10. Avoid alcohol and drugs when walking; they impair your abilities and your judgment.

ANALYZE IT   |   TRAIN IT   |   DOWNLOAD PDF

A Sergeant First Class assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, died in a PMV-4 mishap 2 July 2021 in Fall Branch, Tennessee, at 0100 local. The Tennessee Highway Patrol responded to the single-vehicle mishap, and emergency medical services personnel pronounced the Soldier dead at the scene. He was positively identified by his driver’s license and rental vehicle documents. The safety/unit points of contact are awaiting for the local law enforcement to release their report. Specific circumstances of the mishap, including speed as a contributing factor, are unknown at this time. It was reported that alcohol/drugs were not involved.

Since 2016, the Army has lost an average of 33 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 31st PMV-4 fatality of FY21.



According to the National Sleep Foundation, about half of U.S. adult drivers admit to consistently getting behind the wheel while feeling drowsy. About 20% admit to falling asleep behind the wheel at some point in the past year – with more than 40% admitting this has happened at least once in their driving careers.

These startling figures show how prevalent drowsy driving is. What drivers may not realize is how much drowsy driving puts themselves – and others – at risk.


Driving while drowsy is similar to driving under the influence of alcohol:

•Drivers’ reaction times, awareness of hazards and ability to sustain attention all worsen the drowsier the driver is.

•Driving after going more than 20 hours without sleep is the equivalent of driving with a blood-alcohol concentration of .08% – the U.S. legal limit.

•You are three times more likely to be in a car crash if you are fatigued.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, every year about 100,000 police-reported crashes involve drowsy driving. These crashes result in more than 1,550 fatalities and 71,000 injuries. The real number may be much higher, however, as it is difficult to determine whether a driver was drowsy at the time of a crash.

A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimated that 328,000 drowsy driving crashes occur annually. That's more than three times the police-reported number. The same study found that 109,000 of those drowsy driving crashes resulted in an injury and about 6,400 were fatal. The researchers suggest the prevalence of drowsy driving fatalities is more than 350% greater than reported.

Beyond the human toll is the economic one. NHTSA estimates fatigue-related crashes resulting in injury or death cost society $109 billion annually, not including property damage.



Interventions for Drowsy Driving

Drowsy driving affects everyone, but especially those under age 25, who make up an estimated 50% or more of drowsy driving crashes.

That means interventions focusing on this age group – males especially – can help reduce drowsy driving among those vulnerable. One such intervention is for parents to incorporate discussions and rules on drowsy driving while completing their parent-teen driving agreements.

Other ways to reduce drowsy driving include:

•Crash avoidance technologies: New and existing safety technologies, such as drowsiness alert and lane departure warnings, can detect common drowsy driving patterns and warn drivers to stay in their lane or take a break

•Getting more sleep: According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society, adults should get seven or more hours of sleep each night

•Medication labels: A 2015 article by Consumer Reports found that side effects warnings are not always clear; new labeling guidelines may help drivers understand when to drive or not drive after taking these medications.

•Employers: Workplaces with strong off-the-job safety and health programs can include key information on getting sufficient sleep and refraining from driving drowsy.

ANALYZE IT   |   TRAIN IT   |   DOWNLOAD PDF