El Cajon, August 19, 2025 — A California Highway Patrol officer on an unrelated call made an unusual discovery Tuesday night: four cars stopped in the middle of I-8 westbound near El Cajon, their occupants running around the freeway and waving Afghanistan flags.
The bizarre stunt unfolded just before 11 p.m. Each vehicle carried a driver and several passengers, many of whom jumped out and ran across lanes of traffic before rejoining their cars. Once back inside, the group continued westbound, with some passengers hanging out of windows still holding flags.
CHP quickly mobilized, with about eight units intercepting the convoy at the West Main Street exit. The drivers were pulled over without incident, and officers issued citations for impeding traffic.
Authorities say no other motorists or bystanders reported seeing the incident, making CHP the only witness to the freeway shutdown. The exact motive remains unclear — whether a poorly staged demonstration or simply reckless fun. Either way, officers emphasized the extreme danger of stopping and running across a busy interstate, especially at night.
All four drivers were released after receiving citations. No injuries or arrests were reported.
