Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

A Specialist assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, died in a PMV-4 mishap 4 June 2021 in Carroll County, Tennessee, at 0115 local. The Soldier was en route to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, when he was involved in a traffic accident. He sustained serious injuries and was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The circumstances of the mishap are unknown at this time and it remains under investigation.

Since 2016, the Army has lost an average of 33 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 30th 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, 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.

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A Private First Class assigned to Fort Stewart, Georgia, died in a privately owned weapons (POW) mishap 9 May 2021 in Savannah, Georgia, at 0159 local. The Soldier was reportedly seen by others in the barracks playing with and loading his POW after consuming alcohol. While en route to get food with another Soldier, he unintentionally discharged the weapon and was struck by a round. The Soldier driving called 911, and emergency medical services personnel arrived and pronounced the wounded Soldier dead at the scene. The Criminal Investigation Division initial report states the gunshot was not intentional, and the incident remains under investigation.

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


In addition to never mixing alcohol with firearms, you can manage your risk with POWs 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 Warrant Officer assigned to Grafenwoehr, Germany, died in a PMV-4 mishap 16 May 2021 in Bavaria, Germany, at 2040 local. The Soldier was driving when he attempted to pass another vehicle, struck the center dividing barrier and was ejected. Polizei transported the Soldier to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. It is unknown who contacted the local authorities and emergency management services, but polizei notified military police. Alcohol reportedly was not a causal factor in the mishap; however, it is unknown if speed and seat belt use contributed. The safety point of contact is awaiting for the local polizei 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 29th PMV-4 fatality of FY21.



Driving on the autobahn has its own unique customs and rules.

Speed: On the autobahn, you can drive as fast as you feel is safe (unless otherwise marked); the German authorities recommend a "suggested" speed of 130 kph (80 mph). There is no speed limit on the autobahn, except where posted. For example, speed limits are posted in construction zones or in high-traffic areas, so watch out for these signs — you can get a hefty ticket for speeding in restricted areas on the autobahn.

Passing: You can only pass another car in the left lane. The right lane is for slower vehicles, and overtaking cars in the right lane is illegal. Unlike in the United States, this is strictly enforced.

Look carefully: Before you pull into the left lane to pass another car, make sure to check the rearview mirror carefully. Some cars travel as fast as 200 kph and approach very suddenly. If a car flashes its lights as it approaches from the rear, it means "get out of the way," and you should move to the right.

Top tips for driving Germany’s autobahns

1. Stay on the right except when passing or in heavy congestion.
2. Pay attention to the signs. It’s as easy to miss a reduced speed limit sign as it is to miss an end of speed limit sign.
3. Sundays are the best days for driving on the autobahn since most trucks aren’t allowed on the road.
4. Fridays are the heaviest traffic days, especially before holidays. Try to avoid driving around metropolitan areas between typical rush hours (0700-1000 and 1500-1800).
5. Drive like a local as much as possible. This doesn’t just mean to drive fast and very close to the car in front of you. It means paying close attention to the road and other vehicles. This is what the locals are doing.
6. Don’t allow distractions like texts, phone calls, fiddling with gadgets (GPS, DVD, radio, etc.) while driving at speed. A half a second covers way more ground at 200 kph than at 100 kph.
7. Don’t stay in the left lane any longer than you need to pass slower traffic.
8. If someone flashes their high beams at you from behind, don’t get upset. Just finish passing and move over to the right when done and clear the lane for them.

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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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