A live fire incident that resulted in metal fragments striking a patrol vehicle during Vice President Vance’s visit to a military base in California is drawing considerable attention from officials who are raising concerns about how such an unusual event happened.
A 155-millimeter gun detonated prematurely while simulating a beach attack during the U.S. Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary at Camp Pendleton, causing debris to fall onto Interstate 5 and damage a California Highway Patrol (CHP) vehicle parked nearby. This situation has been labeled an “unusual and alarming situation” by the CHP.
The incident has sparked questions about whether there was adequate coordination between the military and state or local authorities before this ceremony, where approximately 15,000 people gathered. Was it really wise to use live ammunition near a busy highway?
To clarify:
Incident
The shrapnel hit the patrol car Saturday when Marines fired a high-powered grenade from an M777 howitzer, aimed over Interstate 5, which connects the beach to the rest of Camp Pendleton.
This live-fire demonstration was part of a ceremony attended by Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, ahead of the Marine Corps’ anniversary celebrations on November 10.
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office reported that the Marine Corps conducted a test-fire on Friday without notifying state officials. At that time, vehicles were traveling on the highway, but Marines described it as a dress rehearsal and assured it was a “safe practice.”
A newly released report by CHP indicates that the 155mm shell fired at 1:46 p.m. “failed to clear the road and exploded in flight.”
Earlier, Newsom had announced the closure of a 17-mile stretch of Interstate 5 due to safety concerns; however, a patrol vehicle from Vance’s team was parked on the on-ramp when the debris began to fall.
The report noted, “The explosion produced small metal fragments that fell onto the closed highway,” which caused minor damage—a dent and scratch—on the CHP vehicle’s hood.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, though investigators did find two pieces of debris around 1 to 2 inches long.
The exercise was stopped, and no further munitions were fired once Marines were alerted to the mishap. Safety measures were implemented before the highway re-opened.
“Very Rare”
Col. Gregory Dreibelbiss, from the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, stated that an investigation into the incident is underway. He pointed out that routine artillery shelling occurs regularly at Camp Pendleton.
Dreibelbis mentioned that the military usually conducts these operations safely, noting that the M777 system is designed to fire over “friendly forces” effectively. He emphasized the system’s successful use in combat situations.
Yet, state officials had expressed unease about the live ammunition being fired over a major highway just days prior.
CHP Border Director Tony Coronado described the incident as “unusual and alarming,” stating that live-fire activities on active highways are not commonplace.
As a Marine, he expressed immense respect for military efforts but emphasized his primary duty is to protect the public and ensure officer safety. He has called for an after-action review to improve communication and coordination for future events near public roads.
The CHP informed the Times they weren’t aware of any prior live ammunition exercises over Interstate 5.
Pointing
On the Friday before the demonstration, Newsom criticized the administration, labeling it a “highly unreasonable show of force that could directly endanger Californians.”
On Saturday morning, he reiterated that firing live ammunition on a busy road is “not only wrong, it’s dangerous,” and confirmed the closure of Interstate 5 due to safety concerns during the live demonstration.
During that time, the White House’s rapid response team took to social media to playfully criticize Newsom for his precautionary closure.
An official post mentioned, “No one from the White House or Marine Corps even asked him to do that. The Marine Corps asserted that there were no public safety concerns regarding today’s exercise.”
The White House has yet to comment on the incident, and Vance’s office did not provide a response when contacted. The Pentagon directed inquiries to the Marine Corps.
In contrast, Newsom stated that Trump and Vance “are risking lives just to put on a show.”
“You accused the governor of overreacting when he decided to close parts of highways to keep the public safe,” Newsom’s office remarked on social media. “Without question, an apology is due to all Americans, not just Californians.”
“This could have led to fatalities,” Newsom remarked later, emphasizing his concerns further.
When asked for a comment, the First Marine Expeditionary Force informed The Hill that live-fire training is a year-round activity at Camp Pendleton and that the recent demonstration underwent thorough safety evaluations designed to ensure the well-being of all personnel involved.
