Full Breakdown
Irvine Crash Claims Life of South OC Cars & Coffee Co-Founder James Wehr and Passenger
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Crash Details
In the early hours of a Sunday, a 2019 McLaren traveling north on Culver Drive near Deerfield Avenue in Irvine lost control, struck a curb and a tree, split in two, and ignited. Police said the vehicle was moving at a “high rate of speed” after the traffic light turned green. Firefighters extinguished the blaze and found both occupants dead inside the car.
Victims and Community Response
The male occupant was identified as 27-year-old James Wehr, co-founder of the weekly automotive gathering South OC Cars & Coffee. The female passenger, later confirmed by family members as 22-year-old Alexis “Lexi” Kramer of Lakeland, Florida, had worked at Hooters and appeared in the chain’s 2026 calendar. Wehr’s mother, Sarah, posted a tribute on Instagram, recalling his birth on August 17, 1999, and describing his “love for people…second to none.” Members of Southern California’s car community described Wehr as an “energetic community builder” and mourned the loss of a prominent influencer.
Investigation Status
Irvine Police Department investigators have not released a precise speed figure or a definitive cause for the loss of control. The crash remains under investigation, and authorities have asked anyone with information to contact the department at 949-724-7047.
Official Statements & Responses
Police spokesperson Kyle Oldoerp confirmed that the male occupant was driving and that the crash occurred shortly after midnight. A witness to the fire told local TV that the vehicle “was just gone” after the blaze.