- James Wehr and Alexis Kramer, known for their car-related social media content, died in a fiery car crash in Irvine, California, in the early hours of Sep. 13.
- The 2019 McLaren crashed at high speed, splitting in two and catching fire, according to a public statement.
- Wehr, 27, was the first victim identified, being a notable social media influencer and a pillar of the Irvine sports car community.
- Kramer, 22, was identified by family and friends on Sep. 14 as the second victim in the crash.
- Investigators believe speed was a factor in the crash, but have not determined who was driving the vehicle.
- The crash occurred around 12:18 a.m. at Culver Drive and Deerfield Avenue in Irvine.
- An eyewitness reported hearing a loud noise followed by a big boom, describing the scene as a ginormous fire.
- Kramer's family stated she flew from Lakeland, Florida, to meet Wehr on Sep. 11 and attended one of his car shows.
- Wehr's mother shared a moving tribute on social media, expressing her profound loss and love for her son.
- The Irvine Police Department's Major Accident Investigation Team is conducting a detailed examination of the burned vehicle.
Car influencers James Wehr, 27, and Alexis "Lexi" Kramer, 22, tragically died in a fiery crash in Irvine, California, on September 13. The 2019 McLaren they were in lost control at high speed, striking a curb and a tree before splitting in two and bursting into flames.12345
According to the Irvine Police Department, speed was likely a contributing factor. Officer Ziggy Azarcon stated, “We believe that speed was a factor in this. The vehicle took off at a high rate of speed on Culver Drive and lost control.” Eyewitness accounts described a chaotic scene, with one witness recalling, “I heard a big like, skrrrr and then a big boom. Ginormous fire … The whole car is just gone.”67
Wehr, a prominent figure in the local car community, was known for his social media presence, boasting over 50,000 followers on Instagram. He co-founded a popular weekly car meet-up. Kramer, who had flown in from Florida to meet Wehr, was also an influencer, sharing her passion for cars and motorcycles online.
Family members expressed their grief, with a relative stating, “She loved the car community, so it’s such a tragedy that that’s what ended her.” Investigators are still determining who was driving the McLaren at the time of the crash, and the vehicle has been taken for a detailed examination.
A friend of Wehr's family, Michele Spencer, visited the crash site, noting, “It’s a profound loss, very, very sad. It’s just a big hug from the whole car community, and the family is devastated.”
“Kramer, 22, flew from Lakeland, Florida, to meet Wehr on Sep. 11 and attended one of his car shows, according to a family member. Wehr, 27, co-founded South OC Cars and Coffee, a weekly meet-up, and had over 50,000 Instagram followers.”
