A 36-year-old Captain assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado, died in an off-duty PMV-Pedestrian/Non-Motorist mishap 31 July 2023 in Fountain, Colorado, at 0428 local. The Soldier went on a ruck march in the Fountain area 30 July. At approximately 2230, he had not returned home, so his wife contacted the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD). The following morning, CSPD found the Soldier dead on the side of the road from a suspected hit and run.
Since 2018, the Army has lost an average of six Soldiers a year to off-duty PMV-Pedestrian/Non-Motorist mishaps. This was the fifth off-duty PMV-Pedestrian/Non-Motorist mishap of FY23 and above the number of off-duty PMV-Pedestrian/Non-Motorist fatalities from this time last year.
Safety tips
When walking or running:
Avoid roads – Walk or run on trails, tracks or sidewalks whenever possible.
Face traffic – Walking or running on roads/streets facing traffic allows you to spot oncoming vehicles and time to move out of the road if necessary.
Be visible - Wear bright, reflective clothing/gear (especially in hours of darkness) to make yourself visible to drivers. Headlamps or handheld lights will make you more visible and allow you to see where you are going better.
Don’t wear headsets – Wearing headphones or earbuds impacts your ability to hear and react to approaching vehicles.
Use crosswalks – Look for vehicles in all directions and never assume that drivers see you even if you have the right-of-way.
For more information on pedestrian safety, check out the Off-Duty Safety Awareness Presentation:
https://safety.army.mil/ODSAP.