Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

A Sergeant assigned to Fort Bliss, Texas, died in a government motor vehicle (GMV) mishap 28 August 2020 on the installation at 1934 local. The Soldier was the truck commander in an M1120 HEMTT Load Handling System (LHS) that rear-ended another LHS (Vehicle 2)) during convoy operations. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Soldier's seat belt and personal protective equipment use is unknown at this time. It is suspected that Vehicle 2 had stopped due to a maintenance issue. Dusty conditions were reported at the time of the mishap, resulting in limited visibility and a hazardous driving environment. The USACRC is leading a safety investigation into the mishap.

Since FY16, the Army has lost an average of 12 Soldiers in GMV mishaps per year. This was the 11th GMV mishap of FY20 and below the number of similar mishaps during the same time period last year. Ensure your convoy brief addresses control measures to mitigate hazards identified in your risk assessment, such as vehicle restraint use, speed limits and safe following distances. The Joint Risk Assessment Tool (JRAT) provides numerous potential subtasks, hazards and control measures associated with vehicle operations. Check it out at https://jrat.safety.army.mil.

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A Chief Warrant Officer 3 assigned to Fort Wainwright, Alaska, died in a PMV-4 mishap 5 September 2020 in Fairbanks, Alaska, at 0330 local. The Soldier was driving his PMV-4 with a civilian passenger northbound when he struck the curb approximately 1,100 feet from a traffic-light-controlled intersection. The impact launched the vehicle 25 feet before striking the ground and hitting a light standard. The light standard was tossed into the air and landed 540 feet north along the path of the Soldier’s moving vehicle. The vehicle continued for another 500 feet across the road, over a median and down an embankment into a water-filled slough. Another motorist that witnessed the mishap stopped and removed the occupants from the vehicle and began administering CPR on the Soldier. The Soldier was pronounced dead at the scene. The civilian passenger was conscious and sustained non-fatal injuries. Alcohol was present, but it’s currently unknown whether it was a contributing factor. The use of seat belt and speed as a factor are also unknown. State troopers are investigating the mishap.

Since 2016, the Army has lost an average of 34 Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap is the 27th off-duty PMV-4 fatality of FY20 and is below the number of similar fatalities during the same time period last year.

Here are some important safety tips to follow when operating a vehicle:

- Never drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Avoid distractions while operating a vehicle.
- Maintain the posted speed limit.
- One of the most common things that may cause you to drift away from the center of your lane is if you’re looking down over the hood of the vehicle, focusing on things that are too close. You want to make sure you’re looking as far up the center of your intended path as you can, which generally means you’re looking at the horizon. What’s right in front of your vehicle (that you can see) is available to your peripheral vision. And your peripheral vision can alert you to a problem. Keep your focus far ahead, and you’ll still see what’s in front of your vehicle.

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A Sergeant assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, died in a PMV-2 mishap 4 September 2020 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, at 2330 local. The Soldier was riding with a group of other Soldiers when he attempted to transverse a corner at approximately 70-80 mph, causing his motorcycle to strike an electrical box on the side of the road. He was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the local hospital. Alcohol and drugs are not currently suspected to have contributed to the mishap. Completion of required Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses and use of personal protective equipment have not been verified. The mishap is under investigation.

Since 2016, the Army has lost an average of 28 Soldiers a year to PMV-2 mishaps. This preventable mishap is the 18th PMV-2 fatality of FY20 and below the number of fatalities for the same time period last year.

Here are some important safety tips to follow when negotiating a curve:

- As you approach a curve, slow down to a good entry speed, allowing you to roll on the throttle as you prepare to navigate the curve and speed up later. Use the rear brake gently and position your motorcycle outside for the turn. This means, if you are turning left, your bike should be about 3 feet from the right side of the lane and when you want to turn right, the motorcycle should be about 3 feet from the centerline of the road.

- Remember to use the countersteering technique and apply it at the start of your entry into the curve. Keep your throttle open and roll to the curve, keeping a good distance away from the inside of the curve initially. As the angle of the curve tightens, you should be leaning closer to the curve. Point your eyes in the direction you want the motorcycle to go. At the same time, you should be aware of oncoming traffic from the opposite direction.

- Accelerate after you have negotiated the tightest angle of the curve and you can already see where the road becomes straight again. You should be moving away from the inside of the curve and more toward the inner lane as you accelerate. Acceleration will push your motorcycle up straight again as you prepare to ride on a straight lane.

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A Private assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, died in a training-related mishap 28 August 2020 on the installation at 0700 local. During the individual release portion of a physical readiness training (PRT) platoon run, the Soldier collapsed and lost consciousness. He remained unresponsive and had a core temperature of 102 F as nearby Soldiers assessed his condition. Several minutes later, medics arrived and began CPR. The Soldier was taken to the installation medical center and placed in a medically induced coma. Two days later, he was transferred to another medical center in Temple, Texas, where he remained in a coma and underwent an apnea test as part of the medical protocol. Doctor’s removed him from oxygen in attempt to have him breathe on his own, but it yielded no positive results. The Soldier was later pronounced dead by the attending doctor. At that time, the Soldier’s family made the decision to remove him from life support. The mishap is under investigation.

Since FY16, the Army has lost an average of one Soldier a year to on-duty sports, recreation, and physical training mishaps. This was the second on-duty sports, recreation, and physical training mishap of FY20.

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A Sergeant assigned to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, died in a PMV-2 mishap 26 August 2020 in St. Thomas. At 2215 hours, a civilian notified emergency personnel of a body in bushes next to a motorcycle. Details of the incident are unknown, but the initial investigation suggests the Soldier was riding on the highway when he collided with a guardrail. Use of personal protective equipment and completion of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses have not been verified. Speed and alcohol use are unknown at this time. The mishap is under investigation.

Since 2016, the Army has lost an average of 28 Soldiers a year to PMV-2 mishaps. This preventable mishap is the 17th PMV-2 fatality of FY20 and below the number of fatalities for the same time period last year.

While the specific circumstance surrounding this mishap are unknown at this time, here are some important motorcycle safety tips and facts:

•Per vehicle miles traveled, motorcyclists are about 28 times more likely than people in passenger cars to die in a traffic crash.
•Motorcyclists are more vulnerable to the hazards of road conditions.
•Motorcycles are far less crashworthy and less stable than four-wheel vehicles.
•Look Where You Want To Go: This is an important concept when riding. Looking where you want to go and then going there is crucial to avoid obstacles you may face on the road.
•Obey the speed limit; the faster you go, the longer it will take you to stop. Be aware of local traffic laws and rules of the road.

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