Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

A Specialist assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina died in a privately owned weapons (POW) mishap 15 May 2021, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, at 0118 local. While attempting to unload and clear his privately owned weapon, the weapon unintentionally discharged, striking him in the head.. He was transported to the local medical center and pronounced dead upon arrival by the attending physician. Earlier in the evening, the Soldier had been out drinking with another Soldier, however, the investigating officer has not determined if alcohol was a contributing factor to the mishap. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Since FY16, the Army has lost an average of four Soldiers a year to POW mishaps. This tragedy was the third POW fatality of FY21.


You can manage your risk with privately owned weapons if you 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.

The USACRC website contains numerous resources to address POW safety: https://safety.army.mil/OFF-DUTY/Privately-Owned-Weapons

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A Specialist assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, died in a PMV-2 mishap 14 May 2021, in Huntington, New York, at 1200 local. While on terminal leave, the Soldier was operating his motorcycle, when he struck a civilian vehicle that failed to yield the right of way while making a left-hand turn. The Soldier was pronounced dead at the scene. Speed and alcohol were not causal factors in the mishap. The Soldier completed Basic RiderCourse and was wearing all required personal protective equipment.

Since 2016, the Army has lost an average of 27 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-2 mishaps. This mishap is the 13th off-duty PMV-2 fatality of FY21.


Maintain a Space Cushion

A space cushion is a buffer around your vehicle that you maintain to allow room to maneuver, if necessary. Know what is in your space cushion, scan frequently and maintain awareness of other vehicles.

-Keep at least a three-second following distance in front of you – make it four or five seconds in inclement weather.
-Avoid distractions, including mobile phones and other devices, which can divert your attention, even with hands-free functionality.
-Aim high when looking out over the handlebars at the road.
-Keep your eyes moving, meaning don't just stare at the road ahead; make sure to check mirrors and other views frequently.
-Leave yourself an out; this means anticipating what would happen if you had to swerve or slam on the brakes.
-Position both hands firmly but comfortably on handlebars.

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A Specialist assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), Washington, died in a PMV-4 mishap 5 May 2021 in Sparta, Georgia, at 1530 local. While on leave, the Soldier was driving to his parent’s house in Ellaville, Georgia, when he was involved in a head-on vehicle collision suffering fatal injuries. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including speed, seat belt use, and alcohol as contributing factors, are unknown at this time. Army notification of the mishap was provided to the 201st Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade at approximately 1720. Additionally, the JBLM and Fort Gordon Casualty Assistance Center offices, as well as other government agencies, were notified. The safety POC is awaiting local law enforcement to release information.

Since 2016, the Army has lost an average of 33 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 28th PMV-4 fatality of FY21.



Stay Alert – Avoid Distractions

1. Never drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
2. Avoid distractions while operating a vehicle.
3. Your focus should be on the task of driving safely.
4. Pay attention to your surroundings, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the area where you’re driving.
5. Focus as far to your front as possible using peripheral vision to scan for obstacles.
6. Maintain the posted speed limit.
7. Always wear your seat belt and ensure your passengers do the same.

• The Travel Risk Planning System (TRiPS), although no longer required, is an excellent tool to assist in planning your trip. For more information on TRiPS, visit
https://trips.safety.army.mil/TRiPS

• Build time into your trip schedule to stop for food, rest breaks, phone calls or other business.

• Pull over to eat or drink. It takes only a few minutes.

• Check your route of travel for weather conditions and road construction and plan alternate routes should you need to get off a heavily congested roadway.

• Technology can be an asset if used wisely, whether you use traditional road maps or GPS navigation, plan which route you’ll take ahead of time. This step lets you know which roads you’ll take along your trip. As you plan ahead, you can research the traffic levels of these roads so you can drive safer.

• If you use GPS, your navigation system may even be able to tell you which roads are under construction. When you avoid driving through construction sites, you greatly reduce your risk of accidents and injury.

• If possible, avoid driving at night. Driving conditions are more hazardous at night. Nocturnal animals could wander onto the road. A speeding driver may hit an obstacle and cause an accident.

• Before your trip, look into hotels along your route so you don’t have to make too big of a detour. Additionally, booking a hotel in advance can make stopping at night much easier.

•If your trip is a long one, switch between drivers. Staring at the open road for hours on end can make you drowsy. To avoid falling asleep behind the wheel, switch between drivers every few hours if possible. If you’re driving alone, stop at a rest stop or gas station every couple of hours to stretch your legs and take a break.

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A Private assigned to Camp Ederle died in a PMV-4 mishap on 1 May 2021 in Vicenza, Italy. At 2330, multiple authorities, including the Military Police, a traffic accident investigator and the local police responded to the report of a vehicle mishap. Upon arrival, they discovered a single vehicle occupied by three Soldiers. The initial report indicated the driver became distracted when he glanced at his phone, causing him to drive off the road, strike a parked car and overturn. The driver is suspected of driving under the influence after patrols administered a Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) and he registered a .104 blood alcohol content (BAC). Neither passengers were wearing their seat belts. One of the passengers was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and other passenger were transported to the local hospital and received treatment for non-fatal injuries. The investigation is ongoing and pending the results of the local report.

In Italy, a reading of .05 on a blood alcohol test is grounds for a Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) offense. Also, in accordance with Italian law, there is a zero tolerance for personnel who are 26 years old and younger or have had their license for three years or less.

Since 2016, the Army has lost an average of 33 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap is the 27th PMV-4 fatality of FY21.



Per AR 385-10 Chapter 11

11–4. Safe motor vehicle operations
a. Occupant protection (HSPG Number 20).

(1) Occupant protective devices will be worn by all persons in or on an Army-owned motor vehicle whether on or off the installation.
(2) All personnel, to include Family members, guests, and visitors, will wear occupant protective devices at all times on an Army installation.
(3) Occupant protective devices will be worn by all Soldiers driving or riding in a PMV whether on or off the installation.



How to be a better passenger

Share the responsibilities
Making yourself useful – whether you offer to operate the navigation or act as another set of eyes for the driver – can help avoid any accidents that would have happened due to distraction or driver fatigue. Keeping watch for any diversions and reading road signs will also help the driver to focus on the task at hand.


Banish backseat driving
Keeping a watchful eye for things the driver might miss is helpful; criticizing every move the driver makes could be harmful. If the driver gets frustrated or annoyed, the likelihood is they’ll pay less attention to the road, which could lead to an easily avoidable accident.

Seat belts
Drilled into us since childhood, this one should be obvious but is worth repeating: wear your seat belt. It's the driver's legal responsibility to passengers are properly belted but if the driver doesn’t you as a passenger can ensure everyone is wearing their seat belt.

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A Specialist assigned to Fort Hood, Texas died in a PMV-4 mishap 26 April 2021 in New Braunfels, Texas. At 0715, the New Braunfels Police Department (NBPD) responded to a single vehicle mishap. Upon arriving to the scene, the NBPD Officer discovered that the Soldier was trapped in his vehicle and notified Emergency Medical Services. When EMS arrived, he was pronounced dead, extracted out of the vehicle, and transported to the Sunset Funeral Home in San Antonio, TX. The Soldier was later identified through his driver’s license and other paperwork in the vehicle. At 0908, the Fort Hood police desk received notification of the mishap from the NBPD Officer on scene. Shortly after, Fort Hood Directorate of Emergency Services, Station Operations notified the chain of command. At this time, specific information and factors that contributed to the mishap are unavailable. The safety point of contact is awaiting the results of the investigation.

Since 2016, the Army has lost an average of 33 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap is the 26th PMV-4 fatality of FY21.

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