Details released of California car crash that killed Vince Zampella, ‘Call of Duty’ co-creator
Video game developer Vince Zampella, known for co-creating the popular game “Call of Duty,” was killed Sunday when his Ferrari crashed on a Southern California mountain road.
A report released by the California Highway Patrol’s Altadena division gave the details of the Dec. 21 accident:
The single-car crash happened around 12:45 p.m. at the west entrance to the Angeles Crest Tunnels, on Highway 2 (Angeles Crest Highway) in the San Gabriel Mountains.
The red Ferrari was coming out of the tunnel when it veered off the roadway, struck a short rock wall and was engulfed in flames, according to the CHP.
The driver was trapped in the car and a passenger was thrown from the car, the CHP said. Both died, authorities said.
The driver was Zampella, NBC LA reported. Information on the passenger’s identity was not immediately available.
A video that was shared on social media, and broadcast in part on TV stations, showed witnesses to the crash dragging a victim away from the wreckage.
The car was a 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS, according to NBC LA.
Electronic Arts, the Redwood City-based company that owns Zampella’s studio Respawn Entertainment, confirmed his death on Sunday, but did not disclose a cause of death. He was 55.
Zampella was the head of Respawn Entertainment at the time of his death and was formerly the chief executive officer of video game developer Infinity Ward. He was one of the creators of the bestselling first-person shooter game “Call of Duty.”
A spokesperson for Electronic Arts described Zampella as a “visionary creator” in the video game industry and said “his work helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers around the world.”