Vince Zampella, Creator of Call of Duty, dead after car crash

A gaming titan has fallen.

Call of Duty co-creators Vince Zampella—who also had a hand in shaping beloved games such as Titanfall AND Apex Legends— died in a Southern California car accident on December 21. He was 55 years old.

“This is an unimaginable loss and our hearts go out to Vince’s family, his loved ones and all those affected by his work,” his employer Electronic Arts said in a Dec. 22 statement to The Guardian. “Vince’s impact on the video game industry was deep and far-reaching.”

The video game publisher continued: “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.”

Zampella was involved in a single-vehicle crash around 12:45 p.m. in the San Gabriel Mountains near Los Angeles, according to the California Highway Patrol. The vehicle went off the road and hit a concrete barrier, trapping the driver – identified as Zampella from NBC Los Angeles– I was burning inside.