Highway Chaos: Marine Celebration Sparks Traffic Nightmare

A big military celebration at Camp Pendleton caused a huge traffic mess on Interstate 5.

Highway Closure and Delays

• The highway was closed for hours.
• Even after reopening, traffic remained slow.
• Reason: Live artillery rounds were being fired nearby.

"Imagine sitting in traffic and suddenly hearing loud booms—it's not exactly a relaxing drive!"

Widespread Impact

• Closure stretched from Oceanside to San Onofre.
• Affected travel between San Diego and Los Angeles.
• Amtrak trains were also stopped, worsening the situation.
• Drivers attempted shortcuts, but police shut them down.

Political Criticism

• The governor criticized the White House for not sharing safety info ahead of time, calling it reckless.
• The assistant police chief stated he had never seen the highway closed for anything other than wildfires.
• He also noted that while he was used to artillery fire from his time in the Marines, it can still be a big distraction for drivers.

Military Response

• The Marine Corps said the event was safe and that firing artillery over the highway is a normal practice.
• The governor's office claimed they were told live fire wouldn't happen over the freeway—only to find out later that it would.
• The highway patrol recommended closing the road due to safety concerns.

Protests and Political Tensions

• Protests were happening across the state, adding to the chaos.
• The governor accused the White House of using the military to intimidate people.
• The vice president's team said the governor was just making things political.

Travel Advice

• Drivers had to take big detours.
• Caltrans provided advice on alternative routes, but no matter which way you went, it was going to take a lot longer than usual.