Vince Zampella, the video game developer known for his innovative designs on iconic franchises such as Call of Duty, has died at the age of 55, gaming company Electronic Arts said. Zampella died on Sunday in a car accident on Angeles Crest Highway in Los Angeles.
The crash happened around 12:45 p.m. near mile marker 62 in an unincorporated part of the county near Altadena, according to the California Highway Patrol. According to their incident log, officers were alerted to the crash by a 911 request from an Apple device via satellite.
In a press release, CHP officials said that for unknown reasons, the vehicle “veered off the roadway” and crashed into a concrete barrier, causing it to catch fire. As a result of the impact, the driver was trapped inside and died on the spot. The vehicle's passenger was ejected, police said. They died after being taken to a nearby hospital, police said.
Zampella founded Respawn Entertainment in 2010 and was the former CEO of Infinity Ward, the studio behind the Call of Duty franchise.
“As one of the founders of Infinity Ward and Call of Duty, you will always have a special place in our history. “Your legacy of creating iconic, enduring entertainment is immeasurable,” said statement from Infinity Ward said.
Electronic Arts, which acquired Respawn Entertainment in 2017, shared a statement with CBS Los Angeles about Zampella's death.
“This is an unimaginable loss and our hearts go out to Vince’s family, his loved ones and everyone touched by his work. “Vince's influence on the video game industry has been profound and far-reaching,” the statement said. “A friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator, his work has helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of gamers and developers around the world.”
Zampella has helped build an extensive list of successful games throughout his career, which began in 2002 with Medal of Honor: Allied Assault and continued with the first Call of Duty game in 2003.
In recent years, he contributed to the creation of the Star Wars Jedi series. His studio Respawn Entertainment has released games such as Titanfall and Titanfall 2, as well as Apex Legends. He also led the team at DICE LA, an EA studio based in Playa Vista, according to the report Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences.
