Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

A Soldier assigned to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, was involved in a PMV-2 mishap 14 September 2020, in Pulaski County, Missouri. The Soldier was operating his motorcycle when he struck a deer. He was evacuated via Life Flight to the nearest trauma center and died 11 days later. Completion of required Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses have not been verified. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including use of personal protective equipment, speed, and alcohol and drug involvement 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 21st PMV-2 fatality of FY20 and below the number of fatalities for the same time period last year.

Safety Tips:

Think like a hunter:
You know who is rarely surprised by deer on the roads? Hunters, because they know where deer can be expected. If you’re going to ride in deer country you should learn to think like a hunter. Deer populations peak in the spring, but the risk of hitting them on the road peaks in October, November, and December, during the annual rut. Deer are on the move at this time of year. It’s also the time of year when mature adults weigh the most, making collisions that much worse.

Although you can encounter deer at any time of the day or night, they are most active between dusk and midnight, then again at first light. They typically spend the middle of the day in deep cover, but most deer are not really forest dwellers. Learn to identify edge habitat; prime food sources such as standing corn, mast crops like acorns, and orchards; and travel corridors like tree lines, hedgerows, and gullies. Deer are herd animals. If you see one crossing the road in front of you, be alert to others that might be following. If you scare it, it may well reverse course and cross your path again.

Assess and improve your skills:
Always cover the front brake. Practice emergency stops. When you spot a deer ahead, your front brake is a lifesaver, but only if you’re ready, willing, and able to use it right.

Play “What if?” with yourself. When you come across good deer habitat, ask yourself, “What would I do if a deer jumped out from behind that bush?” Mentally rehearse applying the brakes and aiming for a gap with aggressive counter-steering, not target-fixating on the deer.

I’ve heard people claim they increase speed, with the idea that spending less time near the deer limits the opportunity to hit it. In a worst-case scenario, you are better off scrubbing as much speed as possible and hitting them at a slower speed.

Ride for the conditions:
Don’t ignore deer crossing signs, especially at peak times! Wear a helmet and the best protective gear you can afford while operating a motorcycle. Anywhere that you could encounter deer you should also scan and assess the edges of the road. If the grass in the ditch is waist high, you won’t see deer until they step right onto the shoulder. Processing that additional visual information means slowing down for safety.

If you’re riding in a group, increase your following distance and maintain a staggered formation in order to give each rider time and space to brake and take evasive action. If you see deer ahead, slow down and do something (for example, raise an arm or stick out a leg, or flash your brake light) to ensure following riders notice, too. If you pass deer near the road, consider flashing your high beam or honking to warn oncoming drivers and riders.

Although lots of deer are hit on Interstate highways, the per-passenger-mile risk is much lower than the risk on country roads.

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A Lieutenant Colonel assigned to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, died in a PMV-2 mishap 26 September 2020 in Atchison, Kansas, at 1553 local. The Soldier was operating his motorcycle, with his spouse as a passenger, when he collided with another vehicle that failed to yield. Local authorities responded and both the Soldier and his spouse were taken to the local hospital. Upon arrival, the Soldier was pronounced dead by the attending physician. The Soldier’s spouse is hospitalized with non-fatal injuries. The Soldier completed all required Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including the use of personal protective equipment, speed, and alcohol and drug involvement, are unknown at this time.

Since 2016, the Army has lost an average of 28 Soldiers a year to PMV-2 mishaps. This is the 20th PMV-2 fatality of FY20 but below the number of fatalities for the same time period last year.


Remember these important safety tips when sharing the road with motorcycles:

•Motorcycles have use of the complete traffic lane. Do not share lanes with motorcycles.

•Failure to yield the right-of-way to a motorcyclist is the most frequent driver error in collisions involving a motorcycle and another vehicle.

•Often drivers do not see motorcyclists until it is too late. This is why it is important for drivers to continually scan the roadway in front, to the rear and to the sides.

•Motorcycles accelerate, turn and stop more quickly than other vehicles. Bad weather, rough road surfaces or inexperience may cause a motorcyclist to fall. All of these are reasons why you should increase your following distance to four seconds or more when behind motorcycles.


Create a space cushion around your motorcycle. 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.

•If another vehicle is tailgating you, use your turn signal and change lanes as soon as it is safe to do so.

•If a driver near you is driving erratically or aggressively, put distance between you and the other driver by slowing down or changing lanes.


Things to consider before riding as a motorcycle passenger:

If you are comfortable with the skill level of the person you're riding with and have a mutual level of trust, then you're ready to enjoy the ride. Here are things to think about before you go:

•Have your own safety gear. What you wear is up to you, but you should be well aware that motorcycle accidents can cause harm very quickly, and protective gear is designed specifically to prevent that. A helmet is the most important piece of safety gear, but gloves, sturdy boots, strong pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and an armored motorcycle jacket are all important pieces of gear too. Borrow gear if you can, but if you'll be riding regularly, get your own.

•Know the type of bike they have. Some big touring bikes and cruisers have passenger seats that look like recliners, while sport bikes and other performance bikes have rear seats that are basically designed to say "nobody belongs here."

•Develop some kind of way to signal to each other while riding. At speed, the rider may not be able to hear a thing you're saying, so it helps to establish some way to communicate by touch. At a minimum, determine a way for you to signal to them when you want to slow down, speed up or stop. If they have a Bluetooth communication device, you can it use to talk to them during the ride even better.

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A Sergeant assigned to Vicenza, Italy, died in an off-duty hiking mishap 19 September 2020 in Valli del Pasubio, Italy. The Soldier was hiking on the Road of 52 Tunnels trail with another Soldier when he stopped to pose for a picture and fell approximately 300 meters through steep and rocky terrain. When the other Soldier could not locate or communicate with the fallen Soldier, he coordinated a medical evacuation with the assistance of an Italian guide. Italian medical personnel made multiple attempts in difficult terrain to retrieve the Soldier before finally evacuating him to a local hospital. While en route, the on-board MEDEVAC physician pronounced the Soldier dead. The mishap is under investigation.

Since FY16, the Army has lost an average of five Soldiers a year to off-duty sports, recreation and physical training mishaps. This tragedy was the third fatal off-duty sports, recreation and physical training mishap of FY20 and below the number of fatalities from this time last year.

The Road of 52 Tunnels was built during World War I by the Italian Army. Back then, it was designated for mules, which carried equipment and supplies to the Italian front lines. The road is situated in northern Italy and is a popular hiking trail.


Hiking Safety Tips:

1. Consult a park ranger.
When deciding where to hike, your best bet is typically going to be a national or state park. They're staffed by rangers with a wealth of information about what you need to stay safe in that particular location. Give the park office a call before your hike, visit the official National Park Service (NPS) site or stop by the office before you leave the trailhead.

2. Agree on an emergency plan.
Part of your plan for any hike should be what you're going to do in an emergency situation. Before heading out, know how you will call or send for help in the unlikely event something bad happens.

These are the key questions your plan needs to answer:

-Will there be reliable cell service? Is someone bringing a fully charged phone and a portable charger? If not, is someone bringing a personal locator beacon, satellite messaging device that can get emergency messages out by pinging satellites with your GPS data, or satellite phone?
-If there's an emergency, does the park have its own emergency number, or should you call
911?
-If you can't transmit a message, which one of you will volunteer to get help?

3. Stay on the trail.
For the sake of your own safety, the natural resources, other hikers and a potential search party, it is paramount that you stay on that trail. Your odds of encountering a risky obstacle go up when you step off the path. It's also easy to get turned around. Veering off the trail also leads to what rangers call "social trails," or unofficial routes carved into the wilderness by wayward hikers. Social trails can trample vegetation, disturb animals, cause erosion and endanger hikers after you who might think it's the right way.

4. Go for a small trial hike before taking on a major one.
Some things are hard to figure out until you're actually out there. Go for a modest hike before a major one, especially if you're new to hiking. A modest hike allows you to shake out your gear, feel out the weight of your pack, break in your boots, and figure out how much food and water you consume as an individual.

5. Be extra careful on the second half of the hike.
The second half of a trip or the end of the day is usually when accidents like falls, slips and trips happen. Your energy levels are lower, your leg muscles are fatigued and your mind might be more focused on getting to the finish than the next step. Take your time and be extra careful with your footing.

6. Be ready to turn back.
You can look at a map and talk to folks all day. But when the rubber meets the road and you have to make decisions, you've got to be willing to turn around. You're more likely to make a poor judgment call — ignoring signs your body needs a break, pushing a straggler to keep up, pressing on when a storm rolls in — when you're hyper-focused on getting to an endpoint. You'll find it easier to be flexible if you keep in mind an objective besides the summit, literally or metaphorically.

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A Staff Sergeant assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado, died in a PMV-2 mishap 17 September 2020 in Divide, Colorado, at 1806 local. The Soldier was operating his motorcycle with another civilian rider on the road when he lost control and struck a wooden utility pole. Emergency medical service pronounced him dead on the scene. Immediately afterward, a state trooper notified the Soldier’s unit of the mishap. According to the civilian rider, the Soldier was wearing all required personal protective equipment. The Soldier also completed all required Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses. Speed and alcohol and drug involvement are not currently suspected to have contributed to the mishap. 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 19th PMV-2 fatality of FY20 and below the number of fatalities for the same time period last year.

Here are some important safety tips 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.
- Look where you are headed or where you want your motorcycle to go.
- Remember to use the countersteering technique.
- When you can see the exit point of the curve, position your bike to aim for a much straighter line.
- Accelerate after you have negotiated the tightest angle of the curve and you can already see where the road becomes straight again.

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A Sergeant First Class assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, died in a pedestrian mishap 14 September 2020 at Naval Air Station-Key West, Florida, at 1515 local. The Soldier was supporting the unit with maintenance and supply accountability. Shortly after checking in to his hotel, he went to the Navy Exchange (NEX) on base. While outside the NEX, the Soldier was struck by a vehicle and killed. At approximately 1649, the unit received notification of the mishap and immediately reported it to Battalion Headquarters and the proper channels. The specific circumstances of the mishap are unknown at this time. An investigation has been initiated with no suspicion of foul play. The unit will continue to provide updates as they are released by NAS-KW and local law enforcement.

Since 2016, the Army has lost an average of eight Soldiers a year to pedestrian mishaps. This mishap is the fourth pedestrian fatality of FY20 and is below the number of similar fatalities during the same time period last year.

Be Visible
Make sure you’re visible to drivers at all times and make eye contact with them whenever possible. This is especially important at night, in low-light conditions such as dusk or dawn, or in inclement weather. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis, 32 percent of all pedestrian fatalities occur between 8 p.m. and 11:59 p.m.

-Wear lightly colored or reflective clothing at night and brightly colored clothing during the day.
-Stay in well-lit areas, especially when crossing the street.
-If possible, make eye contact with drivers in stopped vehicles to ensure they see you before you cross in front of them.


Stay Alert – Avoid Distractions
Distractions are everywhere today and becoming more and more difficult to avoid. Remember that, as a pedestrian, your eyes and ears are your best tools for keeping safe. Stay alert and watch out.
-Put down your phone. Smartphones and handheld electronic devices are a daily part of life, but they take your eyes off of the road and distract your attention.
-Don’t wear headphones. Your ears will tell you a lot about what is happening around you; be sure to use them.


Follow the Rules
-Know and follow all traffic rules, signs and signals. You need to be aware of the rules vehicles around you must follow to properly anticipate what drivers will do. This will help increase your safety.
-Never assume a driver will give you the right of way. Make every effort to make eye contact with the driver of a stopped or approaching vehicle before entering the roadway.


Walk in Safe Places
-Use crosswalks when crossing the street. If a crosswalk is unavailable, be sure to find the most well-lit spot on the road to cross and wait for a long enough gap in traffic to make it safely across the street.
-Stay on sidewalks whenever possible. If a sidewalk is not available, be sure to walk on the far side of the road facing traffic. This will help increase your visibility to drivers.
-Avoid walking along highways or other roadways where pedestrians are prohibited.

Avoid Alcohol Consumption
Almost half of all traffic crashes resulting in pedestrian casualties involve alcohol consumption. Surprisingly, 34 percent of that total was on the part of the pedestrian. Alcohol impairs your decision-making skills, physical reflexes and other abilities just as much on your feet as it does behind the wheel.

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