Posted on 12/23/2025 9:34:21 AM PST by Red Badger
Video game developer and ‘Call of Duty’ creator Vince Zampella, 55, was killed in a horrific car crash in Southern California on Sunday.
Video posted to social media shows Zampella speeding out of a tunnel in his Ferrari in the San Gabriel Mountains before crashing into a concrete barrier.
The Ferrari burst into flames as onlookers screamed in horror.
Several witnesses ran across the windy mountain road and dragged the ejected passenger away from the fiery wreckage.
Zampella died at the crash site. The unidentified passenger died later at the hospital.
NBC Los Angeles reported:
Video game developer Vince Zampella, whose studios have created several of the world’s best-selling games, was killed Sunday afternoon in a Ferrari crash on Southern California’s Angeles Crest Highway, NBC4 Investigates has learned.
Zampella, an acclaimed figure in the video game industry, is the head of Respawn Entertainment. The prolific designer is the former CEO of video game developers Infinity Ward, the studio behind the successful “Call of Duty” franchise.
The single-car crash was reported at about 12:45 p.m. on the scenic road north of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Mountains. The southbound Ferrari veered off the road just after exiting a tunnel, hit a concrete barrier and a passenger was ejected, the California Highway Patrol said.
The driver, Zampella, was trapped in the ensuing car fire, the CHP said. He died at the scene and the passenger died at a hospital, authorities told NBC4 Investigates. Details about the passenger’s identity were not immediately available.
Details about what led to the crash off the winding forest road overlooking Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley also were not immediately available. A witness provided video of the crash involving a 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS to authorities that shows the red car slamming into the barrier just after exiting the tunnel.
Respawn released a statement on Vince Zampella’s untimely death:
We’re heartbroken by the passing of our founder and dear friend Vince Zampella.
Vince was a titan and legend of this industry, a visionary leader and a force who shaped teams and games like Call of Duty, Titanfall, Apex Legends, the Star Wars Jedi series and Battlefield for our community in ways that will be felt for generations.
His impact reached far beyond any one game or studio. We will remember Vince for how he showed up every day, trusting his teams, encouraging bold ideas, and believing in Respawn & Battlefield. Most importantly, he championed what he believed was right for the people behind those studios and our players because it mattered.
We will miss him greatly.
Our hearts are with his family, friends, and all who love him.
Suicide plus the attempted murder of a passenger?
We don’t know who the passenger was yet.
Probably just an accident by a overconfident person with more money than good sense...........
He may have been blinded by the sun coming out of the tunnel and couldn’t see the road.................
Didn’t know him. But did he ever have experience driving such a vehicle? There are so many rich people who have wrapped a car like that around a pole. It’s like a retiree going out and the first thing he does is buy a gigantic 2000cc Road GLider when he hasn’t ever even ridden a moped.
Was doing 120+ in my twin-turbo V6 365hp car on the highway. The car was just coming to life, but it doesn’t handle as smoothly as my old BMW. Honestly, it had me on edge as I pressed on. Then I started to think about a blown tire, an errant squirrel, or some life-ending pothole. As I quickly began running out of highway I throttled way down and tapped the brakes. Exhilarating yes, but at my age I fully grasp I am no longer bulletproof. Still, Ido wonder what the real-world top end might be.
Good point. But at a more basic level he was really blinded by science.
Blinded by the light!
Revved up like a deuce another runner in the night!........
Very easily to destabilize the chassis when driving at speed, especially with the toys turned off. Non-racers don’t understand this.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Too bad he had to take someone with him.
There is almost no structure outside of the front rails, so if a narrow offset crash missed the front rail (which it appeared to do in this case) there is nothing to deccelerate the car at a survivable g force before the barrier hits the A pillar.
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