The gaming world is in shock following the tragic passing of Vince Zampella, a visionary co-founder of the immensely popular Call of Duty franchise and an executive at Respawn Entertainment. Zampella, 55, died Sunday afternoon in a devastating car accident in Los Angeles. His high-performance Ferrari crashed on a mountain road, tragically ending the life of the gaming pioneer.

Electronic Arts (EA), where Zampella previously held a significant executive role, confirmed his death on Monday. A spokesperson for EA described Zampella as “a visionary creator whose work has shaped the world of interactive entertainment.” His contributions have undeniably left an indelible mark on the video game industry.

Disturbing footage circulating on social media captures the harrowing final moments. The video shows Zampella’s cherry-red 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS exiting a tunnel on the Angeles Crest Highway in the San Gabriel Mountains. Shortly after, the supercar appears to lose control on the winding road, veering sharply before impacting a concrete barrier. The vehicle was then consumed by a massive fireball.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that the collision occurred on Sunday, December 21, around 12:45 p.m. The crash was of such high impact that one passenger was ejected from the vehicle. Both Zampella and the passenger sustained fatal injuries. Zampella was pronounced dead at the scene, while the passenger, after being rushed to a local hospital, later succumbed to their injuries. The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation by the CHP, with factors like speed and potential mechanical issues being examined.