Investigators say they have “clear evidence” that Southern California car influencer James Wehr was driving his 2019 McLaren at dangerous speeds when it was split into two pieces in a fiery crash in Irvine that killed him and a 22-year-old Florida woman.
Alexis “Lexi” Kramer was in the McLaren with Wehr, 27, co-founder of South OC Cars & Coffee, an event billed as “the world’s largest weekly car show,” when the Sept. 13 crash occurred, Irvine Police Department officials said in an updated news release Thursday night.
The crash occurred around 12:18 a.m. at Culver Drive and Deerfield Avenue.
Investigators said the 2019 McLaren was at a complete stop moments before the crash.
“We believe that speed was a factor in this,” Irvine Police Officer Ziggy Azarcon said. “The vehicle took off at a high rate of speed on Culver Drive and lost control, striking a curb and then a tree, splitting the vehicle in two and catching fire.”
Newly released video shows a McLaren moments before it crashed into a tree and burst into flames in Irvine on Sept. 13, 2026, killing two people. (TMZ)
Newly released video shows a McLaren moments before it crashed into a tree and burst into flames in Irvine on Sept. 13, 2026, killing two people. (TMZ)
James Wehr, cofounder of South OC Cars & Coffee was killed, along with another person after a 2019 McLaren they were in crashed, split in two and caught fire on Sept. 13, 2026. (OC Hawk)
James Wehr, cofounder of South OC Cars & Coffee was killed, along with another person after a 2019 McLaren they were in crashed, split in two and caught fire on Sept. 13, 2026. (OC Hawk)
James Wehr, cofounder of South OC Cars & Coffee was killed, along with another person after a 2019 McLaren they were in crashed, split in two and caught fire on Sept. 13, 2026. (OC Hawk)
James Wehr, cofounder of South OC Cars & Coffee was killed, along with another person after a 2019 McLaren they were in crashed, split in two and caught fire on Sept. 13, 2026. (OC Hawk)
Flowers sit at the base of a tree in Irvine marked with the burn scar of a fiery high-speed crash that killed a man and young woman on Sept. 13, 2026. (KTLA)
Azarcon added that when Orange County Fire Authority personnel and Irvine police arrived at the scene, the McLaren was fully engulfed in flames.
“The flames had to be extinguished, and that’s when we found the two people inside the vehicle,” he said.
Witnesses said the McLaren reached speeds of more than 100 mph before it spun out of control and crashed.
The update from investigators also marked the first official identification of Kramer and Wehr by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Coroner Division. Family members had previously confirmed the deaths of their loved ones on social media shortly after the crash.
Alexis Kramer, 22, a resident of Florida, was identified by family members as the second person killed in a deadly McLaren crash in Irvine on Sept. 13, 2026. (GoFundMe)
James Wehr, 27, cofounder of South OC Cars & Coffee was killed, along with another person after a 2019 McLaren they were in crashed, split in two and caught fire on Sept. 13, 2026. (Wehr)
Alexis Kramer, 22, a resident of Florida, was identified by family members as the second person killed in a deadly McLaren crash in Irvine on Sept. 13, 2026. (GoFundMe)
James Wehr, 27, cofounder of South OC Cars & Coffee was killed, along with another person after a 2019 McLaren they were in crashed, split in two and caught fire on Sept. 13, 2026. (Wehr)
Alexis Kramer, 22, a resident of Florida, was identified by family members as the second person killed in a deadly McLaren crash in Irvine on Sept. 13, 2026. (GoFundMe)
James Wehr, 27, cofounder of South OC Cars & Coffee was killed, along with another person after a 2019 McLaren they were in crashed, split in two and caught fire on Sept. 13, 2026. (Wehr)
“Our Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) is conducting an extensive investigation into the collision that will take months to complete,” Irvine police officials said. “MAIT investigators have clear evidence that shows Wehr was in the driver’s seat of the McLaren and Kramer was in the passenger seat at the time of the collision.”
Footage of the crash that surfaced on social media showed the moment the McLaren lost control and erupted into flames.
A family member who spoke with TMZ said Kramer and Wehr met on Instagram and had been talking for about a month before he flew her to Southern California. The pair reportedly spent the day together before the crash.
Family of woman killed in crash with California car influencer shares new details
The outlet also reported that the family member said Wehr misled Kramer about his marital status, allegedly claiming that his divorce was nearly finalized when that was not the case. Wehr’s wife reportedly contacted Kramer’s family and spoke to them about her husband’s relationship with Kramer.
“Lexi was the funniest, kindest, and most exhilarating person I’ve ever had the privilege to know,” her sister, Kaitlin Gracie Kramer, wrote in a GoFundMe campaign. “Lexi was a known lover of green redbulls, tulips, cats, and making jokes out of everyone and everything around her. Getting to grow up with her has been the greatest privilege of my life.”
The investigation remains open and active.
“Investigators will examine all possible contributing factors to the collision, including roadway and vehicle conditions, the vehicle’s speed, and any factors that may have affected Wehr’s operation of the McLaren,” investigators said. “We do not anticipate any other public updates until the investigation is complete.”
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