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Marine Corps Probe Links Artillery Malfunction to Highway Explosion

3/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

An internal Marine Corps investigation found a malfunctioning fuze likely caused a 155mm artillery round to explode over Interstate 5 during a Camp Pendleton live-fire demonstration last October, attended by Vice President J.D. Vance.
Shrapnel damaged a California Highway Patrol vehicle.
The round detonated 453 meters above the highway.
Electromagnetic energy might have contributed to the malfunction.
Thirty rounds were fired during a rehearsal the day before, raising safety concerns.

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Story summary

An internal Marine Corps investigation found a malfunctioning fuze likely caused a 155mm artillery round to explode over Interstate 5 during a Camp Pendleton live-fire demonstration last October, attended by Vice President J.D. Vance.
Shrapnel damaged a California Highway Patrol vehicle.
The round detonated 453 meters above the highway.
Electromagnetic energy might have contributed to the malfunction.
Thirty rounds were fired during a rehearsal the day before, raising safety concerns.