Vince Zampella, one of the creators of Call of Duty and co-founder of Respawn Entertainment, died at 55 in a car crash on Angeles Crest Highway on Dec. 21, 2025. A later report citing the Los Angeles medical examiner listed thermal injuries and smoke inhalation as his cause of death, with blunt trauma also recorded. The reason the car left the road remains unknown in the California Highway Patrol’s preliminary account.
What happened in the crash?
The California Highway Patrol received a call at 12:43 p.m. on Dec. 21, 2025, about a crash at Mile Post 62.70 on Angeles Crest Highway, according to the Los Angeles Times. The newspaper quoted the CHP’s preliminary account: “for unknown reasons, the vehicle veered off the roadway, struck a concrete barrier, and became fully engulfed.”
The Times identified the car as a red 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS. The passenger was ejected, while the driver remained trapped. Both occupants died. The report said CHP had not determined whether drugs or alcohol were a factor. The preliminary account did not establish why the car left the road, and no cause should be inferred from the crash description.
What was Vince Zampella’s cause of death?
In an April 22, 2026, follow-up, the Los Angeles Times reported that the Los Angeles medical examiner’s database listed thermal injuries and smoke inhalation as Zampella’s cause of death, with blunt trauma also recorded. This later medical-examiner information is distinct from the CHP’s initial account of how the crash occurred.
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The same report identified the passenger as Zachary Marks, a 38-year-old technician and robotics enthusiast, and said the medical examiner listed blunt force injuries as his cause of death.
Who was Vince Zampella?
Zampella was a game developer and studio leader best known as one of the creators of Call of Duty. He co-founded Infinity Ward with Jason West and Grant Collier in 2002; the first game in the franchise was released in 2003. The Associated Press reported that the franchise had sold more than half a billion games worldwide. That is the milestone cited in the AP’s Dec. 22, 2025, report, not a newly verified current total.
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After leaving Activision, Zampella and West founded Respawn Entertainment in 2010. West later departed, while Zampella remained with the studio. Respawn’s work under his leadership included Titanfall, Apex Legends and the Star Wars Jedi games, including Fallen Order and Survivor. He was also associated with Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond and led the Battlefield franchise at Ripple Effect. These were collaborative studio and franchise efforts, not solo productions.
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Electronic Arts, in a statement reported by the Associated Press, called Zampella “A friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator,” adding that his work helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers.
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Geoff Keighley, a video-game journalist and co-creator of The Game Awards, described Zampella as “a gamer at heart” and praised his ability to recognize talent and give people the freedom and confidence to create great work, according to the AP.
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- MULTIPLAYER BUILT ON CONTROL — Engage in grounded, precise combat where fluid movement, player choice, and refined mechanics give you greater control in every firefight.
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