A 155-millimeter artillery shell detonated prematurely over Interstate 5 during a Marine Corps live-fire demonstration at Camp Pendleton on Saturday. It scattered shrapnel on a California Highway Patrol (CHP) vehicle and a motorcycle assigned to Vice President JD Vance’s protective detail, according to a CHP report described by The New York Times.
Officials did not report any injuries and halted the exercise after the overhead detonation.
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Freeway closed
Gov. Gavin Newsom previously objected to firing live rounds over the busy freeway. According to The Times, he ordered a 17-mile closure between Los Angeles and San Diego, despite Marine officials saying it was safe to keep the road open.
After shrapnel struck a closed portion of the highway, Newsom called the display “reckless” and said the White House owed Californians an apology.
Marines launch investigation
Marine officials said they were aware of a “possible airborne detonation” of a 155 mm round outside the designated impact area and suspended firing under established safety protocols, The Associated Press (AP) reported.
Lt. Col. Lindsay Pirek of I Marine Expeditionary Force said an investigation is underway.
Fox News national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin shared a statement from the unit. It said the demonstration underwent a “rigorous safety evaluation,” no injuries occurred and an investigation has been initiated.
Witness accounts and timeline
Newsweek reported that CHP Border Division Chief Tony Coronado called the situation “highly uncommon” for live-fire activity near an active freeway.
CHP said one officer heard what sounded like pebbles falling around his motorcycle and found a small fragment nearby. Shrapnel struck a separate, unoccupied patrol car causing a dent and scratch, the AP reported.
The Times reported officials fired the round at 1:46 p.m. from White’s Beach. The freeway reopened at 2:20 p.m. after officers found no debris on the lanes. The demonstration, which Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attended, was to include roughly 60 shells before it was scaled back following the initial volley.
Next steps
The Marine Corps said it is committed to determining the “root cause and applying findings to future missions.” CHP officials plan an after-action review to assess coordination around the event to safeguard future operations near public roadways.
