Irvine McLaren Crash Kills 2 as Police Cite Rapid Acceleration and Likely Speed

Q: Who was actually behind the wheel when the modified exotic car violently split apart and burst into flames in Irvine?

James Wehr was behind the wheel, according to later reporting citing Irvine police. In the immediate aftermath of the crash, Irvine police said it was not yet clear who had been driving the 2019 McLaren that struck a tree, split apart and caught fire near Culver Drive and Deerfield Avenue. That uncertainty appeared in early local coverage, and the department said the case was under investigation by its Major Accident Investigation Team. But subsequent reporting, including statements attributed to an Irvine Police Department spokesperson, said evidence indicated Wehr was driving and that Alexis “Lexi” Kramer, 22, was in the passenger seat just before the collision. TMZ reported that Irvine police said “based on evidence, that just before the collision, a female was in the passenger seat and not the driver’s seat,” and separately identified Wehr as the driver. The Los Angeles Times also reported that Newport Beach police had stopped Wehr earlier that night while he was driving the McLaren and issued a warning for a modified exhaust. So while the crash investigation remains open and police had not initially announced the driver publicly, the strongest available reporting indicates Wehr, 27, was driving and Kramer was the passenger.

Q: After a police warning earlier that day, what truly caused the fatal high-speed McLaren crash that killed a prominent car community founder?

The fatal crash appears to have been caused by extreme acceleration and loss of control, with speed identified by police as the main suspected factor — not the earlier police warning itself. Investigators say the 2019 McLaren was stopped at a red light at Culver Drive and Deerfield Avenue, then accelerated northbound at a very high rate of speed when the light turned green. The driver lost control, veered right, struck a curb, then slammed into a tree with enough force to split the car in two and ignite it. Irvine police have repeatedly said speed is believed to have played a major role, though the exact speed has not been publicly released. The earlier stop by Newport Beach police, about five hours before the crash, resulted only in a warning for a loud or modified exhaust. There is no public evidence that warning directly caused the collision. What it does show is that the same McLaren had already drawn police attention that night. Other possible contributors remain under review. Police said their Major Accident Investigation Team will examine vehicle condition, roadway conditions, and anything that may have affected the driver’s operation. Video cited in later reports appeared to show the car crossing a wet patch of pavement and braking before swerving, but authorities have not confirmed that as a definitive cause. So, based on the evidence released so far, the clearest answer is that the crash stemmed from a high-speed launch from the light followed by loss of control.

3 articles · Updated · Los Angeles Times · Sep 15

Investigators say the 2019 McLaren stopped at a red light, then accelerated hard after it turned green before veering off Culver Drive, hitting a pine tree and splitting in two.
James Wehr, 27, co-founder of South OC Cars & Coffee, and Alexis Kramer, 22, a Florida model visiting him for the weekend, died in the fiery crash early Sunday.
Newport Beach police said an officer stopped Wehr about five hours earlier for a loud exhaust and issued only a warning; Irvine police have not determined why the car lost control but say speed was likely a factor.
Orange County records show Wehr had more than a dozen vehicle-code citations since 2017, including a 2023 allegation of driving above 100 mph that was later dismissed.
The crash has renewed focus on Irvine's long-running street-racing problem, where arrests and citations rose sharply between 2016 and 2021 despite aggressive enforcement.