A live 155mm artillery shell prematurely exploded during a US Marine Corps live-fire demonstration over a major southern California freeway, showering shrapnel on vehicles including a California Highway Patrol (CHP) car and a motorcycle that was part of JD Vance's security detail. The incident occurred during celebrations for the Marine Corps' 250th anniversary at Camp Pendleton.
The New York Times reported that fragments from the shell landed on vehicles parked on a ramp on Interstate 5, a key artery between San Diego and Los Angeles. The freeway had been closed by order of Governor Gavin Newsom after military officials had initially planned to proceed without road closures. Vice President JD Vance, a former marine, and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth were present at the event.
A CHP officer reported hearing what sounded like pebbles hitting his motorcycle, and a 2-inch piece of shrapnel left a small dent in the hood of a patrol vehicle. The exercise was halted after the premature explosion, and the area was swept for fragments. The Marine Corps confirmed an investigation is under way.
Governor Newsom condemned the exercise as an 'absurd show of force' and 'totally uncalled for', stating: 'Firing live rounds over a busy highway isn't just wrong – it's dangerous.' In response, a spokesperson for Vance, William Martin, accused Newsom of misleading the public about the safety risk, saying: 'If Gavin Newsom wants to oppose the training exercises that ensure our Armed Forces are the deadliest and most lethal fighting force in the world, then he can go right ahead.'
CHP Border Division Chief Tony Coronado, a former marine, said: 'This was an unusual and concerning situation... It is highly uncommon for any live-fire or explosive training activity to occur over an active freeway.' The last-minute closure caused severe traffic delays on Saturday, affecting 80,000 daily travellers and $94m in freight, according to the governor's office.
