Tue Dec 23 07:10:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and rewritten news article based on the provided text:

Summary:

Video game icon Vince Zampella, head of Respawn Entertainment and co-founder of Infinity Ward, died in a fiery single-car crash on Angeles Crest Highway in Southern California on Sunday afternoon. Zampella was driving a Ferrari 296 GTS that veered off the road after exiting a tunnel, striking a concrete barrier and catching fire. A passenger in the vehicle also died. Zampella’s death has sent shockwaves through the gaming industry, with colleagues and critics alike remembering him for his creative vision, humility, and profound impact on interactive entertainment.

News Article:

Video Game Legend Vince Zampella Dies in Fiery Ferrari Crash

LOS ANGELES, CA – Vince Zampella, the influential video game developer behind blockbuster franchises like Call of Duty, Titanfall, and Apex Legends, died Sunday in a single-car accident on Angeles Crest Highway. Zampella was 55.

The California Highway Patrol reported the crash occurred around 12:45 p.m. on the scenic highway in the San Gabriel Mountains, north of Los Angeles. Zampella was driving a Ferrari 296 GTS southbound when the vehicle veered off the road shortly after exiting a tunnel, colliding with a concrete barrier. The car subsequently caught fire.

Zampella was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the vehicle was ejected from the car and later died at a local hospital. The passenger’s identity has not yet been released.

According to CHP reports, provided to NBC4 Investigates, Zampella was trapped inside the vehicle because of the fire.

Witness video of the incident, obtained by authorities, shows the red Ferrari impacting the barrier at high speed just after exiting the tunnel. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.

Zampella’s death has sent ripples of grief throughout the gaming world. He co-founded Respawn Entertainment in 2010, which was later acquired by Electronic Arts (EA) in 2017. Before that, he served as CEO of Infinity Ward, the studio responsible for the groundbreaking Call of Duty franchise. He also led an EA studio team behind the Battlefield video game franchise.

“Vince’s influence on the video game industry was profound and far-reaching,” EA said in a statement. “A friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator, his work helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers around the world. His legacy will continue to shape how games are made and how players connect for generations to come.”

Gene Park, video game critic for the Washington Post, remembered Zampella as both a creative visionary and a humble individual. “He really knew how to create stories and create experiences that really hit at the heart of the human experience,” Park said. “He was very well aware of the impact that he made on people, and he never took it for granted.”

NBCLA has reached out to Zampella’s family and Respawn Entertainment for comment.

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