Los Angeles

Artillery‍ Fire During Vance Visit‍ Prompts Highway Closure, Sparks Dispute with California Governor

CAMP‍ PENDLETON, Calif. – A planned‌ artillery exercise conducted during a visit by Vice President J.D. vance to ‌Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton led⁣ to the closure ⁣of a 17-mile stretch of ⁤Interstate 5 in‍ Southern California ⁤on‍ Saturday,‍ causing important ‌traffic ⁣delays and⁤ prompting a sharp rebuke ‌from Governor Gavin Newsom. The⁤ incident⁤ has ignited a debate over the balance between military training and public safety, and also the transparency surrounding the event.

The California Department of⁤ Transportation‌ (Caltrans) ultimately decided to​ close ⁢the freeway ⁤following practice firings Friday evening and a request from⁢ event organizers for signage warning of “overhead fire in progress.” The closure, impacting a major⁢ transportation corridor between San ⁣Diego⁣ and Los angeles, affected an estimated 80,000 travelers ‌and $94 million ⁣in ⁣daily ‍freight traffic, according to the ‌governor’s office.Passenger rail ​services running parallel to the I-5 ‌were also canceled for the​ afternoon.

“This ‍is all​ because of the White ⁤House-directed military event, that for the safety of the public, we need to shut down ‌the freeway‌ since they’re sending live ⁣ordinances over the freeway,” Caltrans ⁢spokesperson Matt Rocco said.

U.S. Marines⁣ Capt. Gregory Dreibelbis defended the exercise, stating in a statement that ⁢artillery fire occurs⁤ nearly every week at the base and that the drills did not endanger motorists. “Weeks of intentional planning and rehearsals ensured success at every phase of execution,” Dreibelbis said.

However, a spokesperson for Vance, William Martin, accused Newsom of misleading the public regarding​ the safety risk. “If Gavin Newsom wants to oppose the training exercises that ensure our Armed Forces are⁤ the deadliest and most lethal​ fighting force ‍in the world, then he can go right ahead,” Martin stated to The ⁣New York times.

The I-5 closure potentially added up to ⁣two hours to commutes between San Diego and Los Angeles. No mishaps were ‍reported in‍ connection with the artillery fire.