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Electronic Arts confirmed that Vince Zampella, co-creator of Call of Duty and co-founder of Respawn Entertainment, died after a car crash on Angeles Crest Highway in Los Angeles County on December 21, 2025. The California Highway Patrol said the vehicle left the roadway for unknown reasons, struck a concrete barrier and caught fire. Later reporting attributed Zampella’s cause of death to thermal injuries and smoke inhalation, with blunt trauma also reported.
What happened in the crash
The California Highway Patrol’s preliminary account, quoted by the Los Angeles Times on December 22, 2025, said a southbound vehicle veered off Angeles Crest Highway “for unknown reasons, the vehicle veered off the roadway, struck a concrete barrier, and became fully engulfed.” The agency said both occupants died: the passenger was ejected and the driver remained trapped.
The CHP said it received the call at 12:43 p.m. at mile post 62.70. CBS Los Angeles described the crash as occurring at about 12:45 p.m. near mile marker 62. These are the respective outlets’ reported time and location details; the available accounts do not establish a more exact shared figure. The CHP’s account did not say why the vehicle left the road.
What later reporting established
On April 22, 2026, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner database, that Zampella died of thermal injuries and smoke inhalation and also suffered blunt trauma. The Times identified the other person killed as Zachary Marks, 38, and reported his cause of death as blunt force injuries. The CHP had said in its preliminary account that it was unclear whether drugs or alcohol were factors; the cited reporting does not establish toxicology findings or fault.
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How old was Vince Zampella?
Published reports conflict. The Associated Press report of December 22, 2025 gave his age as 55, as did the Los Angeles Times’ initial report. In its April 22, 2026 report, the Times gave his age as 56, citing the county medical examiner database. Without a primary record resolving the discrepancy, both ages should be treated as reported rather than presenting one as certain.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why Zampella mattered to video games
Zampella co-founded Infinity Ward with Jason West and Grant Collier. The studio released the first Call of Duty in 2003. The Associated Press reported in 2025 that the franchise had sold more than 500 million copies worldwide; that is the AP’s reported figure, not a separately verified current sales count.
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Zampella and West founded Respawn Entertainment in 2010. His work and leadership were associated with Call of Duty, Titanfall, Apex Legends, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Battlefield, spanning major shooter and action-game series.
In a statement reported by the Los Angeles Times on December 22, EA said: “Vince’s influence on the video game industry was profound and far-reaching.” The company also said: “This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince’s family, his loved ones, and all those touched by his work.”
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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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- BONUS 2X OFFER — Purchase Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 at Amazon and receive 5 hours of Double XP.**
- PRE-ORDER BONUS — Pre-order and unlock the Hunter Killer Operator Skin and the Gilded Pearl Camo Pack.*
- GLOBE‑SPANNING CAMPAIGN — Fight across the Korean Peninsula, New York, Paris, and Mumbai in a high‑stakes narrative where global conflict escalates and survival depends on tactical precision.
- 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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