Metal shrapnel from an exploding artillery shell struck a California Highway Patrol (CHP) vehicle as U.S. Marines fired live rounds during a training exercise over Interstate 5, an action contested by Governor Gavin Newsom. Fortunately, no personnel were injured in the incident that took place on Saturday at Camp Pendleton.
The premature detonation occurred as part of scheduled exercises celebrating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps, which included the closure of a 17-mile stretch of the highway between Los Angeles and San Diego for safety reasons, as emphasized by Newsom.
As the ordnance detonated unexpectedly outside the established impact zone, the CHP confirmed that traffic in the area had been halted prior to the incident. A Marine Corps spokesperson acknowledged the mishap, stating that the firing was immediately suspended.
Captain Gregory Dreibelbis of the I Marine Expeditionary Force indicated that investigations are underway to determine the root cause of the detonation and to apply findings to enhance future safety protocols. The Marines reported that the exercise concluded successfully without further incident.
Following the incident, the CHP detailed that one patrol vehicle was impacted by shrapnel, causing minor cosmetic damage. The area was subsequently cleared of any remains, allowing highway operations to resume.
In response to the event, Governor Newsom expressed his concerns on social media, emphasizing public safety over military demonstrations, while Vice President JD Vance, present at the exercise with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, defended the military operations.
