California Highway Patrol (CHP) officials reported that a patrol vehicle was struck by shrapnel from an artillery round fired during Saturday’s live-fire event at Camp Pendleton, held to celebrate the U.S. Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary.
The metal shrapnel originated from an “explosive ordnance fired over the Interstate 5 freeway” that “detonated overhead prematurely,” according to a CHP news release. The falling piece of shrapnel damaged the patrol vehicle shortly after 1:45 p.m.
“The incident occurred in an area where CHP officers were supporting a traffic break on I-5 near Camp Pendleton during an exceptional U.S. Marine Corps live-fire training demonstration over the freeway,” the release stated. During the exercise, CHP had stopped traffic along the freeway to ensure safety.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported. CHP officers promptly informed U.S. Marine Corps personnel at the scene, who then canceled any additional firing of live ordnance over the freeway. Law enforcement also swept the surrounding area to ensure public safety.
“This was an unusual and concerning situation,” said CHP Border Division Chief Tony Coronado. “It is highly uncommon for any live-fire or explosive training activity to occur over an active freeway. As a Marine myself, I have tremendous respect for our military partners, but my foremost responsibility is ensuring the safety of the people of California and the officers who protect them.”
Following the incident, CHP officers filed an internal report and recommended an additional after-action review aimed at strengthening protocols and improving communication among federal, state, and local agencies for any future demonstrations or training events near public roadways.
A spokesperson for the Marine Corps told CBS News that the incident is under investigation. “We are aware of the report of a possible airborne detonation of a 155mm artillery round outside the designated impact area during the U.S. Marine Corps Amphibious Capabilities Demonstration at Camp Pendleton, CA, Oct. 18,” the statement said in part.
“The demonstration went through a rigorous safety evaluation and included multiple layers of redundancy to ensure the safety of fellow citizens. Following established safety protocols, firing was suspended. No injuries occurred, and the demonstration concluded as scheduled. An investigation has been initiated. We are committed to determining the root cause of the incident and applying findings to future missions.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom addressed the incident on social media, stating: “Donald Trump and JD Vance put lives at risk to put on a show. If you want to honor our troops, open the government and pay them.”
The event stirred some controversy in Southern California as the heavily traveled stretch of Interstate 5 was closed between Harbor Drive and Basilone Road from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The closure decision was only announced on Saturday morning, despite earlier speculation during the week that drew criticism from Governor Newsom.
The celebration brought together 15,000 military personnel and veterans, including Vice President JD Vance, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. The event took place at the expansive Camp Pendleton military base, which spans from southern San Diego County to Orange County.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/camp-pendleton-live-fire-demonstration-shrapnel-5-freeway-california-highway-patrol/
