Tragic Video Captures 'Call of Duty' Creator Vince Zampella's Fatal Ferrari Crash
A tragic video captures the horrific fatal Ferrari crash that took the life of Call of Duty creator Vince Zampella.
The video, which has widely circulated on X, shows the red Ferrari zooming through a tunnel before clipping a concrete barrier. The car then crashed and burst into flames. The video then shows bystanders using expletives in shock as they ran toward the car, which was partially demolished. Although they appear to pull something or someone from the wreckage toward the end of the video, it is hard to see from afar. Still, the video is very disturbing because of the scene it depicts.
"Millions of us have been forever inspired by Vince Zampella’s work. His legacy is enduring. Across all our Call of Duty teams and all across Activision, we offer our deepest condolences to Vince’s family, friends and fans on his tragic passing,"Call of Duty wrote on X.
Vince Zampella, Who Was Driving the Ferrari When It Crashed, Was 'Trapped' in the Burning Vehicle
Vince Zampella was killed in the crash, NBC Los Angeles confirmed. The crash occurred on Sunday, December 21, 2025, on Southern California's Angeles Crest Highway. He ran Respawn Entertainment.
Here's a version of the video with the more graphic ending cut off:
- The California Highway Patrol told NBC LA that the crash occurred around 12:45 p.m. in the San Gabriel Mountains.
- The Ferrari "veered off the road just after exiting a tunnel, hit a concrete barrier and a passenger was ejected," the television station confirmed.
- NBC LA noted that Zampella was "trapped" in the blaze that started, dying at the scene. There was also an unidentified passenger in the Ferrari, who died a hospital, NBC LA reported. Zampella was driving a 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS.
"The Ferrari 296 GTS, the evolution of Ferrari’s mid-rear-engined two-seater berlinetta spider concept, is powered by the new 120° V6 engine coupled with a plug-in (PHEV) electric motor that debuted on the 296 GTB, which unleashes a massive 830 cv in total," Ferrari's website says of the vehicle.
Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images
"The car thus redefines the whole concept of fun behind the wheel, guaranteeing pure emotions not just when it is being pushed to its limits, but also in day-to-day driving situations."
Tributes Flowed for Vince Zampella
We're heartbroken by the passing of our founder and dear friend Vince Zampella.
— Respawn (@Respawn) December 22, 2025
Vince was a titan and legend of this industry, a visionary leader and a force who shaped teams and games like Call of Duty, Titanfall, Apex Legends, the Star Wars Jedi series and Battlefield for our… pic.twitter.com/L51gG9tbRo
Zampella was remembered in tributes as a visionary in the world of video games.
"We're heartbroken by the passing of our founder and dear friend Vince Zampella. Vince was a titan and legend of this industry, a visionary leader and a force who shaped teams and games like Call of Duty, Titanfall, Apex Legends, the Star Wars Jedi series and Battlefield for our community in ways that will be felt for generations," wrote Respawn.
Battlefield's X page wrote, "We are heartbroken by the loss of Vince Zampella, a creative leader whose work shaped generations of players and helped define what modern shooters and action games could be."
The page continued: "Across a remarkable career, Vince played a foundational role in franchises including Call of Duty, Titanfall, Apex Legends, and the Star Wars Jedi series. During his time guiding Battlefield, he led with care and purpose, always grounding decisions in what mattered most to the community and the long-term future of the franchise."
Zampella is survived by his three kids with his ex-wife, Brigitte Zampella.