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A piece of metal fragments from an “explosive ordnance” that prematurely exploded in the sky struck a law enforcement vehicle in California on Saturday, during an event attended by Vice President J.D. Vance.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) confirmed the crash in a press release shared with Fox News Digital. The incident occurred near Camp Pendleton, a Marine Corps base in San Diego County.
The shrapnel was fired while CHP officers were backing up a traffic break along I-5, the same day Vance visited Camp Pendleton to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps.
It is unclear when exactly the accident occurred on Saturday. The CHP said it occurred “during an exceptional live-fire training demonstration for US Marines on the highway, and where the CHP elected to stop traffic during the live-fire training exercise.”
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Metal fragments from a US Marine Corps live-fire training exercise hit a California Highway Patrol vehicle on Saturday. (California Highway Patrol)
No injuries were reported. CHP officers alerted the Marines, who then “called off additional live fire on the highway,” according to the agency.
In a statement, Tony Coronado, head of the CHP’s border division, described the incident as an “unusual and worrying situation.”
“It is unusual for any training activity to occur with live ammunition or explosives on an active highway,” Coronado said.
“As a Marine, I have great respect for our military partners, but my first responsibility is to ensure the safety of Californians and the officers who protect them.”
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Vice President J.D. Vance speaks during the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary celebration at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregory Paul)
“The CHP submitted an internal report on the incident, with a recommendation for an additional after-action review of planning, communication and coordination between the federal, state and local governments around the event on Saturday, October 18, to enhance protocols for future demonstrations and training events near public roadways,” the statement concluded.
In a post on X, California Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote that President Donald Trump and Vance are “putting lives at risk to put on a show.”
“If you want to honor our troops, open up the government and pay them their salaries,” Newsom said.
Vice President J.D. Vance boards Air Force Two at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar on October 19, 2025, in San Diego, California. (Oliver Contreras-Paul/Getty Images)
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Fox News Digital has reached out to Vance’s office for comment.
Lee Ross of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.