Irvine McLaren crash update: Model Alexis Kramer ID'd as 2nd victim killed with car influencer James Wehr
2nd victim in fiery McLaren crash identified
Alexis "Lexi" Kramer, a Florida native, also died in the collision, her family have confirmed.
IRVINE, Calif. - A high-speed crash in Irvine left two people dead early Sunday morning after a 2019 McLaren—driven by 27-year-old car influencer James Wehr alongside 22-year-old model Alexis Kramer—accelerated from a red light, struck a tree, and split in half before bursting into flames.
What we know:
The crash happened around 12:20 a.m. on Sept. 13 in the area of Deerfield Avenue and Culver Drive.
According to the Irvine Police Department, a 2019 McLaren was stopped northbound on Culver Drive at Deerfield Avenue. When the traffic light turned green, the vehicle accelerated northbound at a high rate of speed. The driver lost control, veered to the right, and struck the curb before slamming into a tree.
The impact caused the car to split in half and immediately catch fire. Both occupants inside the vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.
The Orange County Register identified the driver as 27-year-old James Wehr, owner of South OC Cars and Coffee, which is recognized as the world's largest weekly car show.
Relatives confirmed that 22-year-old Alexis Kramer was the second passenger in the vehicle.
A relative told the California Post that Kramer flew from Lakeland, Florida, to meet Wehr on Friday, Sept. 11, and that the pair spent the weekend together and attended his car show prior to the accident.
Kramer, who worked as a Hooters Calendar model, frequently shared photos and videos of cars and motorcycles on her Instagram account.
What we don't know:
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
What they're saying:
South OC Cars and Coffee posted to Instagram saying, "This morning, just after midnight, we lost our darling son and brother James, in a motor accident. We respectfully ask for privacy as a family, as we process this profound loss. We would appreciate all of your good thoughts and prayers, and for those of you who knew James, thank you for being his friends, his mentors and his peers. Thank you for being his clients and his loved ones. We are grateful for all of you. Please hug your loved ones tightly today. Tell them every day how valuable they are to you. Tell them you love them."
Wehr’s mother, Sarah, remembered his "insanely great belly-laugh" and "cheeky smile" in an emotional Instagram message, while his wife, Emma, posted an image carousel in tribute before making her account private. Numerous additional tributes poured in across social media for Wehr.
Kramer’s sister, Gracie, posted a tribute on Instagram featuring a carousel of photos and videos. "My mother always told us growing up that there was always only one person meant to be with you and have your back no matter what and that would always be your sister," she wrote. "Lexi was so much more than just my best friend, she was all of my love, my heart, my attitude, and my humor wrapped into a smaller, more chaotic, less filtered, package."
What's next:
An investigation into the collision remains ongoing.
The Irvine Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team is currently leading the probe to determine the factors surrounding the incident, and police are asking any witnesses to come forward with information.
The Source: This report combines official statements from the Irvine Police Department with direct reporting and family interviews originally published by The California Post, The New York Post, and The Orange County Register. City News Service contributed.