Artillery Incident Marred Marines Celebration on California Highway

Mon Oct 20 2025 17:21:50 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

During the U.S. Marine Corps 250th birthday celebration, artillery fire hit vehicles on a California highway, raising safety concerns amongst state officials.

An artillery mishap during a celebration for the U.S. Marine Corps in California resulted in shrapnel damaging vehicles. The incident involved live munitions, and Governor Newsom criticized the decision to hold the event over a busy highway, highlighting safety risks and raising questions about military training protocols. No injuries were reported, and further firing was canceled after the incident.

Shrapnel from artillery that was detonated during celebrations for the US Marine Corps hit at least two vehicles on a California highway on Saturday, officials have said.

The event, celebrating the Marines' 250th birthday, was attended by Vice President JD Vance, and included live munitions being fired. The California Highway Patrol said one detonated overhead prematurely and struck two vehicles that were part of Vance's protective detail.

It came as state officials and the White House fought over a decision to close part of Interstate 5 for the event in southern California.

Firing live rounds over a busy highway isn't just wrong - it's dangerous, Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said.

The highway patrol said no injuries were reported and they notified the Marine Corps, which then cancelled firing any further munitions.

This was an unusual and concerning situation, Border Division Chief Tony Coronado said in a statement, adding that such exercises are not common over an active freeway.

Newsom stated that he closed a section of the Interstate 5 due to extreme life safety risk and distraction to drivers, including sudden unexpected and loud explosions.

However, before they were aware of the mishap, officials in the vice-president's office had disputed that the demonstration was dangerous.

The First Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton confirmed the firing incident and noted an investigation was underway, emphasizing that the demonstration underwent rigorous safety evaluations.

Newsom responded to the military mishap by saying that Donald Trump and JD Vance put lives at risk to put on a show, and suggested the need for responsible governance, especially during the government funding crisis.