Accident comes after Governor Gavin Newsom raised safety concerns and closed freeway
By Miriam Raftery
Photo: Shrapnel that struck CHP vehicle
October 20, 2025 (Camp Pendleton, CA) – An artillery round exploded prematurely over I-5 on Saturday, causing metal shrapnel to strike a California Highway Patrol vehicle. The incident occurred while Vice President J.D. Vance was at Camp Pendleton for the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps.
President Donald Trump refused to cancel the live-fire demonstration over the freeway, even after Governor Gavin Newsom, the CHP and local leaders voiced safety concerns. Newsom ordered busy I-5 closed for four hours during the event, drawing criticism from conservatives, but the accidental explosion over the highway proved such concerns valid. Had other vehicles been on the freeway, additional chunks of shrapnel could have caused damage or injury to motorists.
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