Well-known game producer, co-founder of the "Call of Duty" series and co-founder of "Apex Legends" development studio Respawn, Vince Zampella, died in a car accident in north Los Angeles on December 21, 2025 at the age of 55.
The crash happened on Angeles Crest Highway in the San Gabriel Mountains. Recently, foreign media TMZ reported the specific details of the car accident.
According to reports, Zampella was driving a 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS. The vehicle veered off the road after exiting the tunnel, hit a concrete guardrail at high speed, and immediately caught fire. In the accident, a passenger in the car was thrown out of the car and died on the spot; Zampella also died because he was trapped in the car.
The Los Angeles County coroner recently revealed that Zampella's death was caused by burns and smoke inhalation while trapped in a car, as well as blunt force trauma. The official has ruled it an accidental death. Video from the time of the accident showed that the Ferrari lost control at the tunnel exit, slid to the guardrail and burst into flames, leaving obvious skid marks on the road. Investigations revealed that high-speed driving may have been a factor in the accident.
Zampella was one of the founders of Respawn Entertainment and the former CEO of Infinity Ward. He participated in the creation and promotion of the "Call of Duty" series and had a profound impact on the modern shooting game industry.
