‘Could have killed someone’: Shrapnel from live-fire exercise over California freeway hits patrol vehicle

SAN DIEGO (KSWB) – Metal shrapnel from explosive ordnance that was fired over Interstate 5 in Southern California during a U.S. Marine Corps live-fire training demonstration on Saturday struck a California Highway Patrol vehicle, authorities said.

The live-fire exercise was part of a major event at Camp Pendleton in honor of the U.S. Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary, and was attended by Vice President JD Vance.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom had objected to the exercises, calling the military’s plans to fire live artillery over the freeway irresponsible. He also said the state had received notice from organizers that signs should be posted along the I-5 freeway to alert drivers of “overhead fire in progress.” 

Newsom instead closed a 17-mile stretch of I-5 connecting Los Angeles and San Diego during the drills.

“The President is putting his ego over responsibility with this disregard for public safety. Firing live rounds over a busy highway isn’t just wrong — it’s dangerous,” Newsom wrote in a statement released on Saturday.

After shrapnel hit the CHP vehicle, Newsom wrote on X that the exercises authorized at Camp Pendleton “could have killed someone.”

CHP Border Division Chief Tony Coronado called the incident “unusual” and a “concerning situation.”

“It is highly uncommon for any live-fire or explosive training activity to occur over an active freeway. As a Marine myself, I have tremendous respect for our military partners, but my foremost responsibility is ensuring the safety of the people of California and the officers who protect them,” Coronado said.

No injuries were reported, but the CHP vehicle hit by the shrapnel was damaged, authorities said.

Following the incident, CHP notified the Marine Corps, which then canceled firing additional live ordnance over the freeway. The area was also swept for further evaluation.

“The CHP has filed an internal report on the incident, with a recommendation to conduct an additional after-action review into the planning, communication and coordination between federal, state, and local government around the event on Saturday, October 18, to strengthen protocols for future demonstrations and training events near public roadways,” the press release from CHP read.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.