Celebration turns hostile
What was intended to be a celebratory ceremony commemorating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps soon turned hostile on Saturday when shrapnel from shellfire struck a California Highway Patrol (CHP) vehicle. The incident took place at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County during a live-fire exercise witnessed by Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Shrapnel bits from a high-powered shell fired over Interstate 5 during the military demonstration dropped on the freeway and hit a patrol car parked in the closure area, said the CHP. Officers reported that they heard what sounded like “pebbles” hitting their vehicles during the ordeal. They were not injured.
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The freeway is closed and traffic is disrupted
The military exercise included closing off a 17-mile stretch of Interstate 5, one of the most travelled highways in California, connecting Los Angeles and San Diego. More than 80,000 commuters use the road daily in peacetime. The closure caused hours of traffic jams and lengthy detours for travellers in Southern California.
Governor Gavin Newsom’s office said that the federal government notified it near dawn on Saturday that live artillery was to be fired over the freeway. The CHP was then directed to close the section and post messages on electronic freeway signs reading, “LIVE WEAPONS OVER FREEWAY.”
Initially, the commanders in the military had promised that live ammunition would not be fired near public roads, meaning that everything would be limited to Camp Pendleton. But hours before the event, that was reversed, and live rounds were sanctioned.
Investigation underway
The California Highway Patrol stated in its report that a two-inch piece of shrapnel made an indentation in a CHP SUV’s hood. Officers immediately reported the incident to the Marine Corps, which suspended all further live-fire practice across the highway.
A full safety sweep of the location was then performed, but nothing further in the way of shrapnel was found. Officials at Camp Pendleton indicated that an internal investigation is currently being conducted to identify what occurred.
“The demonstration experienced a rigorous safety review and numerous levels of review,” read a response from Camp Pendleton to Fox News Digital. “An investigation has been opened to ascertain the root cause of the incident.”
Political responses and community safety issues
The state’s Governor, Gavin Newsom, also criticised the federal government’s reaction to the incident. In a message on social media platform X, he wrote, “We love our Marines and owe a debt of gratitude to Camp Pendleton, but next time, the Vice President and White House shouldn’t be so reckless with people’s lives for their ego projects.”
The CHP added that it would request an after-action review with federal authorities to consider measures for how such incidents might be prevented in the future.
Meanwhile, the Marine Corps has not yet formally explained why live rounds were being used so close to a major public highway after they originally promised everyone there was no risk.
Protests and political tension
The accident happened while statewide “No Kings” protests were taking place against President Donald Trump’s regime. Protests also took place across Southern California on the same day of the Marine Corps birthday celebration, exacerbating the situation.
Despite the accident, the Marine Corps proceeded with parts of the event, like a beach landing and air show that showcased the branch’s amphibious nature.
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Moving forward
No one was hurt in the mishap, but the premature detonation of live artillery has raised questions about safety, coordination, and communication between federal and state governments. The Marine Corps and CHP will collaborate to prepare a final report.
Although the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary was meant to be a celebration of American military heritage, this event will likely be remembered as a serious safety scare rather than its anniversary.
