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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 24-016 - Aviation Mishap Claims Five Soldiers' Lives

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, Aviation

Two Warrant Officers and three enlisted Soldiers assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, died in an aviation mishap in support of overseas contingency operations at local. The crew was conducting break-up, re-join, air-to-air refueling operations, and gunnery training when it crashed into the ocean. Recovery operations are being coordinated. The U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center is investigating the mishap.

Since FY19, the Army has had an average of seven Class A aviation flight mishaps and lost an average of five Soldiers per year to on-duty aviation mishaps. This was the first Class A aviation mishap of FY24 and one above the number of similar mishaps during the same time last year.

 

 

PLR 24-015 - PMV-4 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

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

A 32-year-old Sergeant First Class assigned to Fort Cavazos, Texas, died in a PMV-4 mishap in Kileen, Texas, at local. Soldier No. 1 was operating his vehicle at speeds more than 100 mph with Soldier No. 2 riding as a passenger. Soldier No. 1's vehicle collided with another vehicle at an intersection, driven by Soldier No. 3. Kileen Police Department (KPD) responded to the scene and all Soldiers were transported to the local hospital, where Soldier No. 3 died from his injuries. Currently, Soldier No. 1 is in critical condition and Soldier No. 2 is in stable condition. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including use of alcohol, narcotics, seat belts or who notified emergency medical services, are currently unknown. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for KPD 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 seventh fatality of FY24 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

Safety tip

Dangers of Speeding

For more than two decades, speeding has been a factor in nearly 10,000 fatal crashes every year and is the leading cause of most serious motor vehicle accidents. But despite this apparent danger, speeding can easily be avoided.

Don't Fight Traffic. Traffic congestion is among the most frequently contributing factors to aggressive driving, leading to speeding. Drivers may respond by using aggressive driving behaviors, including speeding, changing lanes frequently or becoming angry at anyone they believe impedes their progress.

Avoid the Fear of Running Late. Never become that aggressive driver because you have too much to do and are "running late" for work, school, your next meeting, lesson, soccer game or other appointments. The fear of being late encourages the impulse to speed. Instead, try getting in the habit of leaving a bit earlier. You can start by adding a couple of minutes. As you form this new habit, you can start adding extra time based on where you're going, how far it is and what the traffic is like.

Identify Your Speeding Triggers. Speeding doesn’t always happen because you’re late. Other factors like stress, anger and complacency can cause you to drive too fast. Learning your personal triggers and staying aware of your speed can help you learn how to stop speeding altogether.

Consider the Consequences. If you're unable to get yourself into a calm headspace where you don't feel the need for speed, remind yourself why speed limits are in place. The potential consequences range from bad to fatal. Driving too fast means you have less time to respond to unexpected hazards. Furthermore, if you're involved in a collision, the faster you're traveling, the more severe the impact is going to be.

Don't Let Others Influence Your Driving. It's not uncommon for other drivers to pressure you into going faster. Another driver might travel very closely behind you, wave their hands in frustration or repeatedly try to overtake you. Try your best to ignore them and stick to the rules. If their behavior is making you feel threatened, let them overtake you as soon as there is a safe opportunity for them to do so.

The same goes for passengers within the car. If passengers don't like your speed, try to ignore them and remember that you are behind the wheel; you're in charge of that vehicle's safety. The limits are in place for a reason — don't just follow the pack.

 

 

PLR 24-014 - PMV-4 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, Other

A 48-year-old Active Guard Reserve Sergeant First Class assigned to the Army National Guard, Franklin, Indiana, died in a PMV-4 mishap in Scottsburg, Indiana, at local. The Soldier was reportedly traveling south when he lost control of his vehicle, crossed into the northbound lanes and struck a tree. Indiana State Police (ISP) responded after receiving a notification of impact from the Soldier’s personal electronics. The Soldier was transported to the local memorial hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival by the attending physician. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including use of seat belt, speed or alcohol, is currently unknown. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for ISP 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 sixth fatality of FY24 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

Safety tip

Nationwide, 52 percent of motor vehicle crash deaths in since occurred in single-vehicle crashes.

Road crashes are the leading cause of death in the country, resulting in more than 38,000 people losing their lives each year.

Safey Tips in the event your vehicle loses control:

  1. Reduce your speed. Slow down if you see something unusual or hazardous ahead of you. Reducing your speed lowers the energy of the car and increases your control.
  2. Don't panic. Avoid panic and stay calm.
  3. Keep your hands on the wheel. Do not let go of the wheel and try regaining control of the vehicle by having your hands on the steering wheel.
  4. Don't slam on the brakes. Gradually press your brake pedal down continuously to prevent losing control even further.
  5. Keep your eyes open. Do not close their eyes; keep your focus on the road to help see a possible opportunity to regain control of your vehicle and to see where you are going.
  6. Steer into the skid. Whether hydroplaning on water or skidding on ice or gravel, it's usually a good idea to steer into the skid. That is, steer in the direction that the back of your vehicle is trying to go. In most cases, this is the best way to regain control of your vehicle.

 

 

PLR 24-013 - GMV Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

Posting Date:   /   Categories: Preliminary Loss Reports, Other

A 26-year-old First Lieutenant assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve, Bedford, Virginia, on inactive duty training orders, died in an on-duty Government Motor Vehicle (GMV) mishap on in Bowling Green, Viriginia, at local. The Soldier’s unit was conducting a tactical vehicle convoy to their battle assembly when the HMMWV left the roadway and overturned. One Soldier was fatally injured, and four other Soldiers sustained non-fatal injuries. A Safety Investigation Board led by members of the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center is investigating the mishap.

Since FY19, the Army has lost an average of eight Soldiers a year to GMV mishaps. This mishap was the third on-duty GMV fatality of FY24 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

Safey tip

The Army has accounted for 22 rollover mishaps resulting in the loss of 20 Soldiers since FY19. Most on-duty rollovers are preventable, and actions can be taken to prevent or reduce severity when they occur.

Safety Tips to prevent vehicle rollovers:

Wear seat belt and restraint devices!

Slow down. Watch for sharp curves and steep slopes and keep a firm grip on the steering wheel. Curves and slopes generate centrifugal force that enacts sideways motion on the vehicle, increasing the chances of rollover. Come to a complete stop and downshift at the crest of steep grades to control speed. Faster speeds also result in decreased driver response times.

Avoid panic. Do not jerk the steering wheel. Many rollovers occur when the driver panics/jerks the steering wheel during an emergency. Jerking the steering wheel, conducting sudden vehicle maneuvers, overcorrecting or excessive steering can cause loss of control, and the vehicle may slide sideways and rollover.

Employ proper maneuvering. If your vehicle runs off the roadway, gradually reduce your speed. Ease off the accelerator pedal so the vehicle slows down. Slowly ease the vehicle back onto the roadway when it is safe, and your speed is under control.

Make sure vehicles have been safety inspected and maintained. Pay attention to the tire condition and air pressure during PMCS to reduce potential hazards. Worn and improperly inflated tires increase your risk of rollover.

Use combat locks/safety latches safely. Combat locks/safety latches help keep the doors closed in a crash. If traveling near water, ensure to release latches to allow easier evacuation in the event the vehicle becomes submerged underwater.

Do not lock up the brakes. Use a pumping action in emergencies instead of locking the brakes. Use adequate braking at various speeds to make emergency stops safely. Breaking hard will accelerate the skid, contributing to loss of control and rollover.

Use caution on rural roads. When a vehicle leaves a rural road, it can overturn when it strikes a ditch, embankment or is tripped by soft soil.

 

 

PLR 24-012 - PMV-2 Mishap Claims One Soldier's Life

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

A 35-year-old Active Guard Reserve Staff Sergeant assigned to the Army National Guard, Camp Shelby, Mississippi, died in a PMV-2 mishap in Saucier, Mississippi, at local. The Soldier was reportedly passing a vehicle and returning into the lane of travel when he ran off the road and struck an embankment. The motorcycle flipped and the Soldier was ejected. The Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) responded to the scene. The Soldier was wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment, had a valid motorcycle license and completed the required Motorcycle Safety Foundation training. Speed was reported as a contributing factor; however, it is unknown if alcohol was involved. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting for MHP 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 sixth PMV-2 fatality of FY24 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

Safety tip

Speeding is more prevalent in fatal crashes involving motorcycle operators than among other types of motor vehicle operators.

Thirty-one percent of all motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes in were speeding, compared to 18% of passenger car drivers (NCSA, ).

Motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes had worse prior driving records than other passenger vehicle drivers, including more driving while impaired (DWI) convictions, speeding convictions, and suspensions or revocations.

Additionally, 28% of the motorcycle operators involved in crashes in did not have valid motorcycle operator licenses.

In , 26% of the motorcycle operators killed in crashes had BACs of .08 g/dL or higher.

Nationally, 38% of fatally injured motorcyclists in known cases of helmet use were not helmeted.

Tips provided by NHTSA

 

 

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