A 22-year-old Specialist assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado, died in a PMV-4 mishap 17 September 2023 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at 0200 local. Three Soldiers were involved in a single-vehicle rollover. Soldier 1 (passenger) sustained fatal injuries and Soldier 2 (passenger) is currently on life support. The driver of the vehicle was treated for minor injuries. Alcohol is suspected as a contributing factor. The specific circumstances of the mishap, including the Soldiers’ use of seat belts or speed as a contributing factor, are currently unknown. The unit/safety points of contact are waiting law enforcement to release its final report.
Since FY18, the Army has lost an average of 35 Soldiers a year to PMV-4 mishaps. This mishap was the 35th PMV-4 fatality of FY23 and above the number of fatalities for the same time last year.
Safety tip
One person is killed about every 39 minutes in a drunk-driving crash, totaling more than 13,000 lives lost each year.
By the Numbers
531 - PEOPLE DIED IN TRAFFIC CRASHES DURING 2021 LABOR DAY WEEKEND
41% - INVOLVED A DRUNK DRIVER
In 2021, two-thirds of drunk-driving crashes involved a driver who had a blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, of .15 g/dL or higher. A BAC of .08 or higher is considered drunk driving in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, except in Utah where the BAC limit is .05.
Have a Plan Whether You're Driving, Riding or Hosting
Before drinking, plan a safe and sober ride home.
- Don’t let someone get behind the wheel if they've been drinking.
- If you’re hosting a gathering, make sure all your guests have a sober ride home.
- If you see an impaired driver, call 911. And always wear your seat belt — it’s your best defense against impaired drivers.
- The Effects of Alcohol on Driving
Just one drink before driving can put you and others in danger because alcohol impairs thinking, reasoning and muscle coordination.
BAC - PREDICTABLE EFFECTS ON DRIVING
.02 - Decline in visual functions, decline in ability to perform two tasks at the same time
.05 - Reduced coordination, reduced ability to track moving objects, difficulty steering, reduced response to emergency driving situations
.08 - Reduced concentration, short-term memory loss, lack of speed control, reduced information processing capability, impaired perception
.10 - Reduced ability to maintain lane position and brake appropriately
.15 - Substantial impairment in vehicle control, attention to driving task, and in necessary visual and auditory information processing
It's Illegal Everywhere to Drive Drunk
A DUI can set you back, on average, $10,000, and there could be a crash — people could get hurt or killed.
Tips provided by NHTSA