Patrol Vehicle Hit By Shrapnel During Marine Corps Live-Fire Event Over California Freeway

San Diego, California — The U.S. Marine Corps has launched an investigation after a California Highway Patrol (CHP) vehicle was struck by shrapnel from a live artillery shell fired during a 250th anniversary celebration at Camp Pendleton on Saturday. The shell reportedly detonated prematurely, scattering debris over Interstate 5, where law enforcement officers were assisting with traffic control.

According to the CHP, no injuries were reported, but one patrol car was damaged when fragments from a 155mm artillery round landed on its hood while officers temporarily closed portions of the freeway to keep motorists clear during the military demonstration.

Unusual And Concerning Incident

CHP Border Division Chief Tony Coronado, who is also a Marine veteran, called the situation “highly unusual and concerning,” emphasizing that it’s rare for any live-fire activity to occur near or over an active highway. Photos from the CHP’s incident report showed the patrol vehicle with visible holes in the hood and fragments roughly 2 inches wide, discovered just north of Red Beach — about a mile from where the live-fire event took place.

A motorcycle officer on the scene also found additional metal shards near his unit. CHP said the timing of the detonation coincided with the brief traffic halt, which was intended to ensure public safety during the Marine Corps amphibious demonstration attended by Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Political Backlash And Safety Concerns

California Governor Gavin Newsom had voiced opposition ahead of the event, warning that firing live munitions over a freeway used by nearly 80,000 vehicles daily posed unnecessary risk. Following the shrapnel incident, Newsom said on X (formerly Twitter), “This could have killed someone.”

A spokesperson for Newsom’s office added that while the state “loves and respects the Marines,” the White House should not “be so reckless with people’s lives for their vanity projects.”

Administration officials from Vice President Vance’s team defended the exercise, calling concerns “an overreaction.” Vance’s communications director, William Martin, told The New York Times that the event was a “safe and established practice” and part of routine training at Camp Pendleton.

Marine Corps And CHP Commit To Investigation

Marine Corps spokesperson Capt. Gregory Dreibelbis confirmed the round had detonated outside the designated impact zone and said the event underwent a “rigorous safety evaluation.” He noted that live fire was suspended immediately after the incident as a precaution.

“The demonstration went through deliberate safety checks and redundant layers to ensure the public’s safety,” Dreibelbis said, adding that a formal investigation is underway to determine the cause of the early detonation and prevent similar events in the future.

The California Highway Patrol also plans to review its coordination process with federal military officials to improve communication and ensure such incidents do not happen again. “We are committed to determining the root cause and applying findings to future missions,” Dreibelbis added.

As investigations continue, both state and military leaders are working to balance public safety with the importance of military readiness demonstrations — a reminder that even carefully planned celebrations can carry unforeseen risks.

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