CHP Vehicle Struck by Shrapnel During VP JD Vance’s Visit to Camp Pendleton Live Fire Exercise

In a dramatic turn of events at Camp Pendleton on Saturday, the U.S. Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary celebration was marred by an unexpected incident involving live artillery fire. According to an internal report released by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), metal shrapnel from an explosive ordnance struck a CHP vehicle during the festivities.

The celebration, which featured a military exercise with live artillery, necessitated the closure of a 17-mile section of the 5 Freeway. This closure, which occurred intermittently over a span of about four hours, left countless drivers stranded in lengthy traffic jams.

The incident occurred around 1:46 p.m. when an explosive device, fired over the freeway from White’s Beach—approximately three-quarters of a mile south of Las Pulgas Road—detonated prematurely overhead. The resulting shrapnel hit a CHP patrol car, damaging it, while also grazing a CHP motorcycle without causing any harm.

Expressing concerns about the unusual nature of the situation, CHP Border Division Chief Tony Coronado remarked, “This is an extraordinary and concerning scenario. It is quite rare for live-fire exercises to occur over an active freeway. While I hold our military partners in high regard, my primary duty is to ensure the safety of California’s residents and the officers tasked with their protection.”

Fortunately, no injuries were reported following the incident. CHP officers quickly informed the Marine Corps, who then made the decision to halt any further artillery firing over the freeway.

In light of the event, CHP has filed an internal report and recommended a thorough after-action review. This review aims to evaluate the planning, communication, and coordination among federal, state, and local authorities during the event. The goal is to enhance protocols for future demonstrations and training exercises in proximity to public roadways, as stated in a CHP announcement.

In a post on X, Gov. Gavin Newsom said, “We love our Marines and owe a debt of gratitude to Camp Pendleton, but next time, the Vice President and the White House shouldn’t be so reckless with people’s lives for their vanity projects.”

This comes after a back-and-forth disagreement between Newsom and the Marines via X on whether or not to shut down the 5 Freeway for the celebration.

The state was asked on Friday to put signage along the freeway that read “Overhead fire in progress,” according to a statement from Newsom’s office. Early Saturday morning, the federal government informed the state that the live fire activities were scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

While the Marines stated they would not need to shut down the freeway during live firing from Navy ships onto land, CHP elected to stop traffic out of caution that someone could get hurt or drivers could be distracted.

A spokesperson for Vice President JD Vance — who was in attendance at Camp Pendleton — declined to comment and deferred to the First Marine Expeditionary Force, which said they are committed to determining the incident’s root cause and applying findings to future missions.