Overview

• The California Highway Patrol closed both directions of I-5 from Harbor Drive to Basilone Road roughly 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with parallel passenger rail service between Orange and San Diego counties also canceled.
• The demonstration, part of the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary, proceeded with Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in attendance and was recorded by the White House for a national broadcast.
• California officials said practice firings observed Friday and a request for signs reading “Overhead fire in progress” prompted the closure recommendation due to extreme life-safety risk and potential driver distraction.
• Marine and White House representatives maintained the activities were routine, rehearsed, and conducted on approved ranges with safety protocols, saying they did not request the freeway closure.
• Gov. Gavin Newsom condemned the event as dangerous, federal and Marine officials defended it as safe, significant traffic delays were reported, and no incidents tied to the artillery fire were reported during the event.