Artillery Shell Explodes Over California Freeway During Marine Celebration
During a Marine Corps 250th-anniversary live-fire demonstration at Camp Pendleton, a 155mm artillery shell prematurely exploded, sending shrapnel onto Interstate 5, a major freeway in southern California. The incident occurred despite Governor Newsom’s objections and last-minute closure of a 17-mile stretch of the highway, which led to significant traffic delays. The premature explosion caused fragments to hit a California Highway Patrol vehicle and a motorcycle in a detail, prompting an investigation by the Marine Corps. The event, which included the presence of JD Vance, led to a dispute between Newsom and military officials over public safety and the necessity of closing the freeway.
John Q. Hosedrinker