Trendpills
A California Highway Patrol (CHP) vehicle was struck and damaged by shrapnel during a U.S. Marine Corps live-fire exercise at Camp Pendleton on Saturday. The incident occurred when an explosive ordnance detonated prematurely over a closed section of Interstate 5. No injuries were reported.
The demonstration was part of the Marine Corps' 250th-anniversary celebration, an event attended by Vice President JD Vance. To ensure public safety, a 17-mile stretch of the I-5 freeway, which runs through the military base, was temporarily shut down in both directions. CHP officers were managing the traffic break when the incident happened.
According to an internal report released by the California Highway Patrol, the high-explosive round detonated unexpectedly mid-flight, causing metal fragments to rain down and strike the patrol car. While the official CHP statement confirmed one vehicle was damaged, some news outlets reported that two patrol vehicles were hit by the debris. The patrol vehicle that sustained damage was reportedly part of the security detail for Vice President JD Vance.
The event was a rare live-fire artillery demonstration over Interstate 5, a major civilian thoroughfare in Southern California. In its report, the CHP recommended a follow-up review to improve communication and coordination protocols with federal and local government agencies for any future exercises of this nature. The Marine Corps has not yet released a public statement on the cause of the premature detonation. The freeway closures, which were implemented intermittently for about four hours, caused significant traffic delays for drivers in the area.
