A live artillery shell exploded prematurely during a marines live-fire demonstration that launched over a southern California freeway in celebration of the military branch’s 250th anniversary, raining shrapnel down on a California Highway Patrol vehicle and a motorcycle that was part of JD Vance’s detail, according to a police report.
Others saw a 2in (5cm) piece of shrapnel hit the hood of a patrol vehicle and leave a small dent.
The exercise was canceled after the shell prematurely exploded, CHP said, and the area was swept for shell fragments but none were found.
View image in fullscreen JD Vance walks on stage to deliver remarks as part of the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary celebration at Camp Pendleton, California, on Saturday.
“This was an unusual and concerning situation,” said Tony Coronado, California Highway Patrol’s division chief, said of the incident on Saturday.
View image in fullscreen Sign alerts drivers about the closure of the freeway on 18 October in San Clemente, California.
The freeway carries 80,000 travelers and $94m in freight through the corridor daily, according to the governor’s office. »