Preliminary Loss Reports (PLRs)

A 26-year-old Sergeant assigned to Fort Cavazos, Texas, died in an off-duty PMV Pedestrian/Non-Motorist mishap 9 February 2025 in Dallas, Texas, at 0530 local. The Soldier was traveling on the interstate in a construction area at night when she experienced a flat tire. She pulled off the road, positioning the vehicle on the downhill side of a hill, to assess the damage when she was struck by a sport utility vehicle. The Dallas Police Department arrived and pronounced the Soldier dead at the scene. At this time, no further details are available.

Since FY20, the Army has lost an average of five Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV Pedestrian/Non-Motorist mishaps. This was the fourth off-duty PMV Pedestrian/Non-Motorist mishap of FY25 and above the number of off-duty PMV Pedestrian/Non-Motorist fatalities for this same time last year.

Safety tip

Roadside emergencies happen to every driver. A flat tire, overheated vehicle or accident can happen any day — and force you to move your vehicle off the road for repairs or towing. This can be an incredibly dangerous situation, as you’re vulnerable to getting hit by other vehicles while you’re stopped on the side of the road.

Whether you’re performing repairs on your vehicle or waiting for help, it’s important that you take steps to keep yourself safe while you’re on the side of the road. Read on to learn how you can practice roadside safety, plus find apps that can help you perform repairs and call (and receive) help quickly.

Roadside Emergency Safety Tips

If you’re on the side of the road, you’ll need to exercise caution. Follow these tips to move to safety and stay out of the danger of traffic, remaining as safe as possible.

1. Take action immediately: If you notice car trouble, start moving over the right way. If you wait too long, your car may stop moving before you’re able to get off of the road.

2. Get as far off the road as possible: If you’re experiencing an emergency while driving, the most important thing you can do is get to a safe place. A shoulder will do if that’s all you can manage, but it’s best to exit freeways, turn off roadways and pull into a rest stop or parking lot. Try to stop under a streetlight if possible. Never stop around corners or curves, on the bottom of a hill or on a narrow road. Don’t stop on a left shoulder unless you have no other choice, as you will be unable to get out of your car and walk off of the highway. Even if you’re destroying your tire, keep going until you can get to safety. You may even save yourself tow truck fees if you’re able to get to a parking lot where you can handle repairs.

3. Warn others you’re having trouble: Turn on your hazard lights, and if you have safety cones, signs, flares, triangles or a light, use those as well to increase your visibility. If you’re stopped at night, be sure to leave your lights on. You can also pop your hood to show others you’re having car trouble.

4. Call for roadside assistance: If you have roadside assistance through your insurance, cellphone carrier or roadside club, give them a call immediately. They are typically available 24/7 with fast service that will take you to the nearest vehicle repair location. Remember to put their phone number in your cellphone so you’ll always have it handy.

5. Don’t exit your car until it’s safe: If you’re having an emergency, you may feel panicked and want to investigate the situation immediately. But be careful about getting out of your car, especially if you’re still near traffic. Get out of your car through the passenger side if there’s traffic on the driver side. And of course, look for traffic before you open your door.

6. Remember you’re in traffic: If you’re on the shoulder, keep in mind you and your car are not protected by the thin white line that separates you from the other cars speeding past on the freeway. All it takes is a distraction or wind to have a vehicle drift over into the shoulder, hitting your car. You should also take care to keep your distance from the flow of traffic. If you can’t perform your own roadside repairs safely, it is best to remain in the vehicle with your seat belt on and doors locked. Don’t stand behind or next to your vehicle.

7. Be prepared with emergency supplies: Keep a first aid kit, extra water and food, and emergency repair supplies including tools, a spare tire, duct tape, jack, jumper cables, heavy-duty rope, gloves and a can of emergency tire inflator. You should also have flags, flares or reflective triangles to warn other drivers that you’re having trouble.

8. Be careful about accepting help: It’s best to call professionals or a trusted friend or family member who can help. Yet strangers who see you’re having trouble may stop to offer assistance. They may be well-intentioned, but you should use caution. Lower your window only enough to talk and use your best judgment in accepting their help. If you’re waiting on roadside assistance or a tow truck, thank them for stopping but tell them help is on the way.

9. Know when to call a professional: Some vehicle owners can handle quick roadside repairs without help, but even the savviest of DIYers can get in over their heads and end up in dangerous territory. Know when it’s smart to call for help. While you might be able to handle a tire change in a parking lot, it’s not a good idea to try to do the same while you’re on a highway shoulder. Use your best judgment.


Roadside Assistance Safety Apps

Need help? You can get connected with service providers and repair advice quickly using these roadside assistance apps. Find a tow truck, learn how to change a tire and get help fast so you can get safely off the road.

10. HONK: HONK is a free on-demand roadside assistance app. It has more than 45,000 tow truck partners nationwide, and flats can be fixed in as quickly as 30 minutes. All you have to do is open the app, share your location information and provide the kind of help you need. You’ll hear back from a service provider with an estimated time for their arrival. This service is available 24/7.

11. Repair Pal: With Repair Pal, you can get help with auto emergencies and roadside assistance. The app offers an easy way to find mechanics in your area and get one-touch access to roadside assistance.

12. Urgent.ly: Urgent.ly is an on-demand roadside assistance service. It has Uber-like visibility and a flat-rate pay-per-use pricing. They use thousands of trusted service providers nationwide to get drivers back on the road quickly with immediate help and no annual fees. You’ll see nearby help, pick a service and watch help arrive in real-time.

13. Good Hands Rescue: This Allstate Insurance service is available to everyone, whether you have insurance with Allstate or not. Using this app, you’ll get in touch with the Allstate network of roadside assistance providers and get help when you need it. It uses your phone’s GPS to pinpoint your location and mobilize a service provider who can help. You’ll also get real-time Updates including a service confirmation and ETA information, so you know when help is on the way.

14. AutoZone: Think you’re up to the task of fixing your car yourself? AutoZone’s app has a repair help feature that offers trustworthy advice for fixing your car yourself and getting back on the road.

Tips provided by DefensiveDriving.Org
 

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A Sergeant First Class assigned to the Army National Guard, Albuquerque Armory, New Mexico, died in a PMV-4 mishap 31 January 2025 in New Mexico at 1653 local. The Soldier was driving on the interstate when traffic stopped due to road construction and a semi-truck rear ended his vehicle.

Since FY20, the Army has lost an average of 36 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 13th PMV-4 fatality of FY25 and below the number of fatalities for this same time last year.

 

 

A 33-year-old Soldier assigned to Fort Johnson, Louisiana, died in a PMV-4 mishap 4 February 2025 in Starks, Louisiana, at 1506 local. The Soldier was driving his vehicle when it departed the roadway and struck a tree. Seat belt use, speed, alcohol or drug use are currently unknown.

Since FY20, the Army has lost an average of 36 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 12th PMV-4 fatality of FY25 and below the number of fatalities for this same time last year.

Safety tip

Distracted driving is dangerous, claiming 3,308 lives in 2022. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) leads the national effort to save lives by preventing this dangerous behavior. Get the facts, get involved and help us keep America’s roads safe.

What Is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system — anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving.

You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention. Any non-driving activity you engage in is a potential distraction and increases your risk of crashing.

Driver Distraction & Electronic Device Use
Using a cellphone while driving creates enormous potential for deaths and injuries on U.S. roads. In 2022, 3,308 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.

Tips provide by NHTSA.

 

 

A Specialist assigned to Fort Cavazos, Texas, died in a PMV-4 mishap 1 February 2025 in Burnet County, Texas, at 1330 local. The Soldier was involved in a head-on collision and airlifted to Dell Seton Medical Center for critical trauma treatment. He was pronounced dead after arrival. Seat belt use, speed and alcohol or drug involvement are currently unknown.

Since FY20, the Army has lost an average of 36 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 11th PMV-4 fatality of FY25 and below the number of fatalities for this same time last year.

 

 

A 28-year-old Staff Sergeant and a 24-year-old Specialist assigned to Fort Stewart, Georgia, died in a government motor vehicle (GMV) mishap 30 January 2025 on the installation at 1845 local. The lead vehicle (JLTV) in a two-vehicle LOGPAC was stopped on the road (improved dirt road) staging for movement when the road collapsed, and the JLTV rolled over into a standing body of water. The top-hatch was opened and the cabin filed with water immediately. The U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center is leading an investigation into the mishap.

Since FY20, the Army has lost an average of five Soldiers a year to GMV mishaps. This mishap was the second and third GMV fatalities of FY25 and is equal to the number of fatalities for the same time last year.

Safety tip

Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) rollover mishaps have gradually increased over the past five years. These mishaps commonly occur while traveling to or from a range or other events. Mishap investigations have revealed that a significant number of the mishaps were due to the limited visibility of the vehicle afforded to the driver. Based on the unique characteristics of the JLTV it is most common to experience a fall-initiated rollover type, rather than maneuver-initiated type, when operating along roads near ditches, bridges, and culverts which incapable of handling the vehicle’s weight. Fall-initiated rollovers usually occur on unimproved roads, possibly near bodies of water where the road shoulders are soft

To mitigate the risk of a rollover ensure you address the top five rollover causes:

1. Driver Inexperience
2. Limited visibility
3. Following Too Close
4. Speeding
5. Fatigue
 

• Driver Training: Leaders must emphasize driver training because of the JLTV’s high center-of-gravity, high ground pressure, large balloon-style tires, and reduced visibility. The JLTV demands excellent driver skills and knowledge beyond that of most tactical-wheeled vehicles. JLTV operators must know how to operate vehicle equipment effectively in the most challenging environments. Challenge JLTV operators to use safe driving practices and increase awareness for accident avoidance IAW (TC) 21-305-7.


• Limited Visibility: An increasing number of rollovers occur during limited visibility when conditions involve dust, snow, rain or dark. Ensure that speed and vehicle intervals are adjusted to address conditions.


• Restricted Visibility: Often, the vehicle pillars and window size block the driver’s forward and peripheral vision of the driver, preventing observation of objects on the ground. The vehicle commander and other crew members must assist the driver in identifying objects in the driver's blind spots. The driver should anticipate approaching objects that may fall into their blind spots as they near them. If in doubt or if approaching a challenging obstacle, the vehicle commander, if applicable, should safely use a ground guide to assist the driver.


• Drop-offs, Ravines, and Eroded Washouts: These physical terrains are generally darker than the surrounding terrain at night, and it can be difficult to determine the depth of the drop. When encountering a suspected drop-off or ditch, the driver and VC should ensure they have a clear pathway through or around the feature. If a ground guide is not tactically feasible, the driver should slow speeds and cautiously approach unknown areas while adhering to the prescribed vehicle gross weight.


• NVDs: Leaders must ensure the vehicle operators are adequately trained and possess the ability to safely and effectively drive using night vision devices (NVDs). The vehicle driver and VC must have a clear understanding of the device's limitations and capabilities, for ambient (available) light, driving ability, proficiency with NVDs and familiarity with the terrain to ensure they can safely and effectively drive using night vision.


• Rollover Training: Leaders must ensure all occupants practice rollover procedures frequently. These drills should include degraded conditions such as doors blocked, injured personnel assessed requiring evacuation and limited visibility. Incorporate the potential for rollovers into risk assessments by assessing bridges and terrain along the route by:


• Being alert and using caution on roads close to canals.
• Allowing greater clearance when traveling along the edge of a road.
• Considering the probability of the road surface collapsing and pitching the vehicle.
• Ensuring that hazards are briefed to drivers before the mission and considering options for alternate or bypass routes.
• Rollover drills can be trained in static vehicles using the steps outlined in GTA 55-03-030.
• Training, Rehearsals, Pre-combat Checks and Pre-combat Inspections: These are key factors for mission success. Driver training is a key staple in any vehicle operation. The Joint Risk Assessment Tool (JRAT) can assist with the development of your deliberate risk assessment worksheet: https://jrat.safety.army.mil.


• The USACRC has Risk-Management Magazine articles on vehicle rollover prevention which can be found on the USACRC website: https://safety.army.mil/MEDIA/Risk-Management-Magazine/ArtMID/7428/ArticleID/7952/Preventing-Rollovers

 

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