The family of Alexis “Lexi” Kramer, the 22-year-old woman killed alongside car influencer James Wehr in a fiery McLaren crash in Irvine, California, has made detailed claims about the nature of their relationship and the circumstances that brought Kramer to California. According to Kramer’s sister Gracie and a family member who spoke to the New York Post, TMZ, and the California Post, Wehr told Kramer that he was separated from his wife, Emma Wehr, and that their divorce was being finalized. The family alleges that this was not true.
“That man lied to my sister and said his divorce was finalizing and he was fully separated,” Gracie Kramer told the California Post. Orange County court records reviewed by the Post reportedly showed that no divorce case involving Wehr had been filed.
A Kramer family member also told TMZ that Lexi believed Wehr “truly loved her” and that she was under the impression the divorce was nearly complete when he paid for her flight from Lakeland, Florida, to California for what became their first in-person date. The family member added that after both Wehr and Kramer died in the crash, Wehr’s wife Emma contacted the Kramer family, and during that conversation, the family learned that “James never told Lexi the full truth about his marriage” and that neither he nor Emma had filed for divorce.
The family member also told TMZ that they believe Wehr’s “reckless driving led to Lexi’s death,” saying she was “put in a dangerous situation without knowing the full truth.”
These claims come from Kramer’s family and have not been independently verified by law enforcement or confirmed by the Wehr family. Emma Wehr has not publicly responded to the allegations. This article presents the family’s account alongside all confirmed facts from the investigation.
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What Lexi Kramer’s Family Has Alleged About James Wehr
The Kramer family’s claims, made across multiple outlets between September 14 and September 16, 2026, paint a specific picture of how the relationship between Wehr and Kramer developed and what Kramer believed about Wehr’s marital status.
James Wehr Allegedly Hid Infidelity Before Fatal Crash, Passenger’s Family Claims https://t.co/useplvtgYC
— TMZ (@TMZ) September 16, 2026
Kramer Family Claims (as reported to TMZ, New York Post, and California Post)
| Claim | Source |
|---|---|
| Wehr told Kramer he was separated from his wife | Gracie Kramer (California Post), family member (New York Post) |
| Wehr told Kramer their divorce was being finalized | Gracie Kramer (California Post), family member (TMZ) |
| No divorce filing was found in Orange County court records | California Post review of records |
| Wehr paid for Kramer’s flight from Florida to California | Gracie Kramer, family member (multiple outlets) |
| Kramer believed Wehr “truly loved her” | Family member (TMZ) |
| After the crash, Emma Wehr contacted the Kramer family | Family member (TMZ) |
| During that conversation, the family learned Wehr had not filed for divorce | Family member (TMZ) |
| The family believes Wehr’s “reckless driving led to Lexi’s death” | Family member (TMZ) |
| Kramer was “put in a dangerous situation without knowing the full truth” | Family member (TMZ) |
It is important to note that these are allegations from the Kramer family. James Wehr cannot respond to these claims. Emma Wehr has not made any public statement addressing the allegations. The Wehr family’s public statements have focused exclusively on grieving James’ death.
Who Was Lexi Kramer: The Full Picture Beyond the Headlines
Much of the initial coverage of Kramer focused on her Hooters calendar modeling and her Instagram presence. Her family has worked to present a fuller picture of who she was.
Alexis “Lexi” Kramer: Profile
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Alexis “Lexi” Kramer |
| Age | 22 |
| Hometown | Lakeland, Florida |
| Education | Associate’s degree from Polk State College |
| Employment | Bartender; had recently accepted a new leadership role with another company |
| Modeling | 2026 Hooters calendar model (noted in her Instagram bio) |
| Interests | Cars, motorcycles, the automotive community |
| How she met Wehr | Instagram direct messages, approximately one month of daily communication |
| Arrival in California | Friday, September 11, 2026 (two days before the crash) |
| Travel arranged by | James Wehr (paid for her flight) |
Gracie Kramer’s Instagram tribute to her sister went beyond the circumstances of the crash to describe who Lexi was as a person.
View this post on Instagram
“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,” Gracie 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.”
Gracie also revealed that Lexi had recently earned her associate’s degree and had just accepted a new job in a leadership position. “As you can imagine, this was very shocking and hard,” Gracie told reporters.
The family has described Lexi as “kind and funny and charismatic” and said they have been overwhelmed by the number of messages from people sharing memories of her.
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The Timeline of the Weekend That Ended in Tragedy
The details provided by the Kramer family, combined with Wehr’s Instagram posts and police statements, allow a detailed reconstruction of the pair’s final weekend together.
| When | What Happened |
|---|---|
| Approximately one month before | Wehr and Kramer connect through Instagram DMs; begin talking daily |
| During the month of communication | Wehr tells Kramer he is separated from his wife and that a divorce is being finalized (per Kramer family) |
| Friday, September 11 | Kramer flies from Lakeland, Florida, to California; Wehr pays for the flight |
| Saturday, September 12, daytime | The pair attend South OC Cars and Coffee at the Outlets at San Clemente |
| Saturday evening | First date: dinner at Nobu restaurant |
| Later Saturday evening | Drinks at the Pendry Hotel in Newport Beach |
| Approximately 11:00 to 11:30 p.m. | Newport Beach police stop the McLaren; driver issued a warning (confirmed by Irvine PD to TMZ) |
| Shortly after the stop | Wehr posts an Instagram story from the Pendry and another showing the police cruiser behind the McLaren |
| Approximately 12:20 a.m. Sunday | The McLaren accelerates from a red light at Culver Drive and Deerfield Avenue at a high rate of speed |
| Seconds later | Driver loses control; vehicle strikes curb and tree, splits in two, catches fire |
| At the scene | Both Wehr (27) and Kramer (22) pronounced dead |
Emma Wehr’s Tribute and the Competing Narratives
Emma Wehr, James’ wife, shared a public tribute on September 14, the day after the crash, alongside photographs documenting their relationship.
“James, I never thought the day would come that I’d have to say such a final goodbye,” Emma wrote. “Getting the opportunity to love you will always be the greatest blessing in my life. You’re smart, kind, funny, loving, and genuinely one of the best people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing.”
The tribute made no mention of a separation, marital difficulty, or the presence of another person in the vehicle. Emma’s message presented the relationship as intact and loving at the time of James’ death.
The Kramer family’s account, published hours later, introduced a sharply different version of events: that Wehr had told Kramer he was separated and divorcing, that he had flown her across the country for a first date, and that, according to the family’s conversation with Emma after the crash, neither party had actually filed for divorce.
The two narratives now exist side by side. Emma Wehr has not publicly responded to the Kramer family’s claims. Wehr’s parents, Simon and Sarah, have not addressed the allegations in their public statements, which focused entirely on remembering their son.
This article presents both accounts as reported by the parties involved, without independently verifying the nature of Wehr’s marriage or his private communications with Kramer.
What Irvine Police Have Confirmed About the Crash
Separate from the personal claims, the Irvine Police Department has released specific confirmed details about the collision.
Confirmed by Law Enforcement
| Detail | Status |
|---|---|
| James Wehr was the driver | Confirmed by Irvine PD (TMZ) |
| Newport Beach PD stopped the McLaren before the crash | Confirmed by Irvine PD (TMZ) |
| The driver was given a warning during the stop | Confirmed by Irvine PD (TMZ) |
| The crash occurred at approx. 12:20 a.m., September 13, 2026 | Confirmed |
| Location: Culver Drive and Deerfield Avenue, Irvine | Confirmed |
| Vehicle: 2019 McLaren 720S | Confirmed |
| The McLaren accelerated from a red light at high speed | Confirmed |
| Driver lost control; vehicle struck curb and tree | Confirmed |
| The McLaren split into two pieces and caught fire | Confirmed |
| Both occupants died at the scene | Confirmed |
| Speed may have been a factor (Officer Ziggy Azarcon) | Confirmed |
Not Yet Confirmed
| Detail | Status |
|---|---|
| Exact speed at time of crash | Under investigation |
| Whether alcohol or drugs were factors | Under investigation |
| Why the driver lost control | Under investigation |
| Toxicology results | Not released |
| The specific reason for the Newport Beach police stop | Not disclosed |
Gracie Kramer’s Full Tribute to Her Sister
Gracie Kramer’s Instagram tribute is the most complete personal remembrance of Lexi shared publicly. Key portions of her message:
On their bond as sisters: “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.”
On who Lexi was: “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.”
About the shock: “As you can imagine, this was very shocking and hard.”
On the community response: Gracie said she had been overwhelmed by messages from people sharing memories of her sister.
On Wehr: “That man lied to my sister and said his divorce was finalizing and he was fully separated. [He] talked to her every day all the time and finally got her to fly out to California to come see him.”
On the crash: “She loved the car community, so it’s such a tragedy that that’s what ended her.”
The tribute contained both deep grief and clear frustration, with Gracie directly attributing blame for the situation to Wehr’s alleged misrepresentation of his marital status and his driving.
The Broader Questions This Case Raises
The Kramer family’s allegations, if accurate, raise questions that extend beyond the crash itself.
About the relationship: If Wehr told Kramer he was separated and divorcing when no divorce had been filed, Kramer made a cross-country trip based on information that was not true. Her family has framed this as a form of deception that placed her in a vulnerable position.
About the crash: The family member who spoke to TMZ explicitly connected Wehr’s driving to Kramer’s death, saying she was “put in a dangerous situation.” The Irvine Police Department has confirmed Wehr was driving and that speed may have been a factor.
About accountability: Because both people in the vehicle died, there will be no criminal charges related to the crash itself. The questions of responsibility, the circumstances of the police stop, and the specifics of any substances involved will be addressed only through the Irvine Police Department’s final investigative report, which has not yet been released.
About the competing tributes: The simultaneous existence of Emma Wehr’s grieving-wife tribute and the Kramer family’s claims of deception has created a public situation where two families are processing loss from fundamentally different positions. One family mourns a husband. The other mourns a young woman they believe was misled.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Was James Wehr on a date with Lexi Kramer when the crash happened?
According to Kramer’s family, yes. They say Wehr flew Kramer from Florida to California for their first in-person date after approximately one month of daily Instagram communication. The pair attended his car show, dined at Nobu, and had drinks at the Pendry Hotel before the crash.
Did James Wehr tell Lexi Kramer he was separated from his wife?
Kramer’s sister Gracie told the California Post: “That man lied to my sister and said his divorce was finalizing and he was fully separated.” A family member told TMZ that Kramer believed the divorce was nearly finalized. Orange County court records reportedly showed no divorce filing.
Has Emma Wehr responded to these claims?
No. Emma Wehr’s only public statement was a tribute to James posted on September 14. She has not publicly addressed the Kramer family’s allegations. A family member told TMZ that Emma contacted the Kramer family after the crash, and during that conversation, the Kramers learned that no divorce had been filed.
Who was driving the McLaren?
James Wehr was confirmed as the driver by the Irvine Police Department.
Who was Lexi Kramer?
Alexis “Lexi” Kramer was a 22-year-old bartender from Lakeland, Florida. She held an associate’s degree from Polk State College and had recently accepted a new leadership position. Her Instagram bio identified her as a 2026 Hooters calendar model. She shared Wehr’s passion for cars and motorcycles.
When did Lexi Kramer arrive in California?
She flew from Florida on Friday, September 11, 2026, two days before the crash. Wehr paid for her flight.
Were police involved before the crash?
Yes. The Irvine Police Department confirmed to TMZ that Newport Beach police stopped the McLaren before the crash and gave the driver a warning. The reason for the stop has not been disclosed.
Is the crash investigation complete?
No. The Irvine Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team is handling the case. Toxicology results, the exact speed, the reason for the loss of control, and the final cause determination have not been released.
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Last Updated on September 16, 2026 by 247 News Around The World
