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Questions, grief after fiery McLaren crash kills O.C. car influencer, Florida model
Los Angeles Times • • nation
Key Points:
- A fiery crash on Culver Drive in Irvine killed car influencer James Wehr, 27, and 22-year-old Alexis Kramer, splitting their 2019 McLaren sports car in two; the cause is under investigation but speed is believed to be a factor.
- Wehr, known for co-founding the South OC Cars and Coffee weekly meetup, had a history of traffic violations including a dismissed speeding charge for driving over 100 mph in 2023.
- The crash occurred shortly after Wehr was stopped by Newport Beach police for a loud exhaust and given a warning; witnesses reported the car accelerated quickly from a red light before losing control and hitting a pine tree.
- Kramer, a Florida native and model for the 2026 Hooters calendar, had been visiting Wehr after connecting with him on Instagram; her sister described her as a beloved and close sibling.
- Irvine police have intensified enforcement against speeding and street racing due to ongoing issues with high-powered cars on the city's wide roads, though traffic collisions have declined in recent years.
