"New questions are emerging about why there were no public warnings before the U.S. Marines fired over Interstate 5 and a major regional commuter rail line as a test run a day before the 250th birthday celebration for the Corps at Camp Pendleton. Friday's exercise occurred during normal freeway and train operations amid the evening commute - and without any of the precautions taken Saturday, when officials temporarily closed the 5 and suspended rail service."
"Lt. Col. Lindsay Pirek, a spokesperson for the First Marine Expeditionary Force, told The Times Monday the Marines notified the state about plans for Friday's launching of shells before it fired a total of 30 rounds from its M777 howitzers between 5 and 5:30 p.m. However, state sources told the Los Angeles Times that the messages the Marine Corps sent on Friday actually did not specify that artillery was being fired in a test run on Friday."
"As a consequence, thousands of rush hour commuters and coastal rail passengers were unaware of the risk as multiple M777 howitzers fired a total of 30 shells over the freeway. "We did not receive a notification that weapons would be fired over the freeway during Friday's rehearsal," a spokesperson for the California State Transportation Agency told The Times. The Times has asked the Marines Corps for comment and has yet to receive an answer."
Marines launched a test firing of 30 M777 howitzer rounds over Interstate 5 and a regional commuter rail during Friday evening rush hour, while freeway and train operations continued. The Marines notified the state about plans, but state officials say messages did not specify live artillery fire over the freeway and were not interpreted as such. Thousands of commuters and rail passengers were unaware of any risk. The following day, officials temporarily closed the 5 and suspended rail service after an artillery shell prematurely exploded, sending shrapnel onto a CHP cruiser and motorcycle and prompting a Marine investigation. Caltrans captured video of the Friday firing.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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