Vice President J.D. Vance recently visited Marine Corps Base Pendleton for a live-fire demonstration. However, a bizarre accident marred the event in the form of shrapnel from a 155mm artillery shell striking multiple vehicles, including a police car. 

US Marines aboard MCB Pendleton rained shrapnel down on multiple cars, including a CHP police car

Just after deferring service members’ paychecks, Vice President J.D. Vance made the trip to Southern California to witness a live-fire demonstration in commemoration of the United States Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary. However, the event’s visitors got more than they bargained for when the Leathernecks demonstrated their 155mm artillery pieces.

According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), shrapnel struck multiple vehicles. If that wasn’t enough, the shrapnel managed to strike a police car as well, leaving a deep gouge in the law enforcement vehicle’s bodywork, per Fox News.

Fortunately, the debacle didn’t result in any injuries, just property damage. “It is highly uncommon for any live-fire or explosive training activity to occur over an active freeway,” said CHP Border Division Chief Tony Coronado. “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,” he added.

Like Coronado and Vice President Vance, I, too, am a Marine. I spent years aboard MCB Pendleton. Frankly, it was a pretty solid duty station for military service members. Turn right and head up Interstate 5, and you’ll run into Los Angeles. Make a left, and you’ll run into San Diego. Four hours will get you to Las Vegas. Make no mention of all the cool little towns in between.

Needless to say, amphibious training operations and helicopters are a common sight along Pendleton’s 22 or so miles of I-5. But artillery operations shutting down one of America’s top commerce roads? And hitting cars with shrapnel in the process? Yikes.