The Irvine Police Department has confirmed to TMZ that James Wehr, the 27-year-old co-founder of South OC Cars and Coffee, was behind the wheel of the 2019 McLaren 720S that crashed and killed him and a 22-year-old woman in the early morning hours of September 13, 2026. Police also confirmed a critical new detail: the Newport Beach Police Department had stopped the same McLaren earlier that evening and issued the driver a warning before allowing him to continue.
The police stop had been the subject of speculation since the crash. Roughly one hour before the fatal collision, Wehr posted an Instagram story showing what appeared to be a police cruiser with its lights activated behind his vehicle. That post, combined with a photograph from the Pendry Hotel in Newport Beach posted earlier in the evening, now fits into a clearer timeline of the hours leading up to the crash.
The second person killed in the McLaren has also been identified. Alexis “Lexi” Kramer, a 22-year-old bartender and 2026 Hooters calendar model from Lakeland, Florida, was in the passenger seat. Her family confirmed her identity to multiple outlets, with her sister Gracie Kramer providing details about the circumstances that brought Lexi to California. According to Gracie, Wehr and Kramer had connected through Instagram direct messages approximately one month earlier, communicated daily, and Wehr flew Kramer out to California to meet him in person for the first time. She had arrived just two days before the crash.
This article provides the confirmed details of the police stop, the full timeline of the evening, the identification of both victims, and the ongoing investigation.
Newport Beach Police Stopped the McLaren and Gave a Warning
A spokesperson for the Irvine Police Department confirmed to TMZ that Newport Beach police stopped the McLaren before the fatal crash and issued the driver a warning. The specific reason for the traffic stop has not been disclosed. Newport Beach police have not released a separate public statement about the encounter.
🚨 Exclusive: James Wehr stopped by cops moments before fatal crash, was in driver’s seat.
Details: https://t.co/mFoU9WaMFJ pic.twitter.com/yA2LVtiQ5A
— TMZ (@TMZ) September 15, 2026
The stop is documented by Wehr’s own Instagram story, which showed a photograph of a police cruiser with its emergency lights on, positioned behind his vehicle. The timestamp of the post placed it roughly one hour before the crash.
Confirmed Facts About the Police Stop
- The Newport Beach Police Department stopped the 2019 McLaren 720S
- The stop occurred before the fatal crash at approximately 12:20 a.m.
- The driver was given a warning
- The driver was allowed to continue
- James Wehr was confirmed by Irvine PD to have been driving the McLaren at the time of the crash
- The specific reason for the stop has not been publicly disclosed
- Newport Beach PD has not released a separate statement
The confirmation that Wehr was the driver resolves a question that had been open since the initial reports. Earlier coverage noted that police had not officially identified who was driving. Irvine PD’s statement to TMZ now establishes that Wehr was behind the wheel both during the police stop (by implication, as the same vehicle and driver were involved) and at the time of the crash.
The Full Timeline of James Wehr’s Final Hours
Details provided by Kramer’s sister Gracie, combined with Wehr’s Instagram posts and police statements, now allow a more complete reconstruction of the evening.
| Time (approximate) | Event |
|---|---|
| Saturday afternoon, September 12 | James Wehr and Alexis Kramer attend the weekly South OC Cars and Coffee event at the Outlets at San Clemente |
| Saturday evening | The pair dine at Nobu restaurant |
| Later Saturday evening | Wehr and Kramer have drinks at the Pendry Hotel in Newport Beach; Wehr posts a photo from the hotel on Instagram |
| Approximately 11:00 to 11:30 p.m. | Newport Beach Police Department stops the McLaren 720S; the driver is issued a warning and allowed to continue |
| Approximately 11:15 to 11:45 p.m. | Wehr posts an Instagram story showing a police cruiser behind his vehicle |
| Approximately 12:18 to 12:20 a.m. Sunday | The McLaren is stopped at a red traffic light at Culver Drive and Deerfield Avenue in Irvine |
| Approximately 12:20 a.m. | The light turns green; the McLaren accelerates northbound at a high rate of speed |
| Seconds later | The driver loses control; the vehicle veers right, strikes a curb, then slams into a tree |
| Impact | The McLaren splits into two pieces and bursts into flames |
| Minutes later | Irvine Police Department and Orange County Fire Authority respond to reports of a vehicle fire |
| At the scene | Firefighters extinguish the fire; both occupants are pronounced dead |
The sequence raises significant questions. The McLaren was stopped by police, given a warning, and released. Roughly 45 minutes to one hour later, the same vehicle accelerated from a traffic light at a speed that investigators say caused the driver to lose control.
View this post on Instagram
What happened between those two events, whether additional driving occurred in Newport Beach, how the vehicle came to be at the Culver Drive intersection, and what prompted the sudden acceleration, remains under investigation.
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Who Was Alexis “Lexi” Kramer: The Second Victim Identified
The identification of the second victim adds a separate dimension of loss to the crash.
Alexis “Lexi” Kramer was 22 years old, from Lakeland, Florida. She worked as a bartender and described herself on her Instagram profile as a 2026 Hooters calendar model. She shared Wehr’s enthusiasm for cars and motorcycles. Her sister Gracie Kramer provided the most detailed account of her connection to Wehr.
View this post on Instagram
Alexis “Lexi” Kramer: Confirmed Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Alexis “Lexi” Kramer |
| Age | 22 |
| Hometown | Lakeland, Florida |
| Occupation | Bartender; 2026 Hooters calendar model |
| Connection to Wehr | Met through Instagram DMs approximately one month before the crash; communicated daily |
| Arrival in California | Flew to California roughly two days before the crash; Wehr arranged the travel |
| Activities before crash | Attended South OC Cars and Coffee, dined at Nobu, had drinks at the Pendry Hotel in Newport Beach |
| Position in vehicle | Passenger (Wehr confirmed as driver by Irvine PD) |
| Identification | Family confirmed her identity to TMZ, the New York Post, and other outlets |
“[He] talked to her every day all the time and finally got her to fly out to California to come see him,” Gracie Kramer told reporters. Lexi had been in California for approximately 48 hours before the crash.
The Orange County Coroner’s Office had not initially released the names of either victim. Wehr’s identity was first confirmed through the South OC Cars and Coffee Instagram announcement from his family. Kramer’s identity was confirmed by her own family members after they spoke directly to the press.
What Irvine Police Have Confirmed About the Crash
The Irvine Police Department has released a series of confirmed details about the collision, while keeping several key questions open pending investigation.
Confirmed by Irvine Police Department
- The crash occurred at approximately 12:20 a.m. on Saturday, September 13, 2026 (corrected from some reports that listed Sunday)
- Location: near Culver Drive and Deerfield Avenue, Irvine, California
- Vehicle: 2019 McLaren 720S
- Driver: James Wehr, 27
- Passenger: Alexis Kramer, 22
- The McLaren was stopped northbound at a red traffic light
- When the light turned green, the vehicle accelerated northbound “at a high rate of speed”
- The driver lost control
- The vehicle veered right, struck a curb, and then struck a tree
- The impact split the McLaren into two pieces
- The vehicle caught fire
- Both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene
- Officer Ziggy Azarcon stated that “speed may have been a factor”
- No other vehicles were involved
- The case is being handled by the Major Accident Investigation Team
Not Yet Confirmed or Released
- The exact speed at the time of the crash
- Whether alcohol or drugs were factors
- Why the driver lost control after accelerating
- Toxicology results for either victim
- The specific reason for the Newport Beach police stop
- Whether any citation or ticket was issued alongside the warning
- A final determination of the crash cause
The investigation remains active. Police have cautioned against drawing conclusions before the full report is completed.
The McLaren 720S: Why the Crash Was So Destructive
The 2019 McLaren 720S involved in the crash is built around a carbon fiber monocoque chassis, a design that prioritizes extreme lightness and rigidity for performance driving. In a controlled environment, this construction provides exceptional crash protection through energy absorption. However, when the vehicle impacts a fixed object like a tree at very high speed, carbon fiber structures can fracture catastrophically rather than deforming gradually like traditional steel or aluminum.
2019 McLaren 720S: Key Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Engine | 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (M840T) |
| Horsepower | 710 hp |
| Torque | 568 lb-ft |
| 0 to 60 mph | 2.8 seconds |
| Top speed | 212 mph |
| Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch automatic |
| Curb weight | Approximately 2,828 lbs |
| Body | Carbon fiber monocoque (MonoCell II) |
| MSRP (2019) | Approximately $284,745 |
The vehicle’s power-to-weight ratio is comparable to purpose-built racing machinery. The 710-horsepower engine pushing a car that weighs less than 2,900 pounds means the McLaren can reach speeds that exceed the design tolerances of public roads within seconds of full throttle application. The fact that the car split in two upon impact and immediately ignited is consistent with the forces involved when a vehicle of this weight and speed strikes a rigid object.
Who Was James Wehr and What He Built at South OC Cars and Coffee
James Wehr was born on August 17, 1999, in Perth, Australia. He moved to Southern California’s Orange County with his family and built his career in the automotive community alongside his father, Simon Wehr. Together, they co-founded South OC Cars and Coffee, widely recognized as the world’s largest weekly car show.
The event takes place every Saturday from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Outlets at San Clemente, attracting between 1,000 and 3,500 vehicles weekly. Wehr celebrated the event’s ninth anniversary in April 2026, five months before his death.
Wehr married his wife, Emma Wehr, approximately one year before the crash. Emma released an emotional tribute on September 14: “James, I never thought the day would come that I’d have to say such a final goodbye. Getting the opportunity to love you will always be the greatest blessing in my life.”
His mother, Sarah Wehr, shared a message tracing James’ entire life from birth: “It’s too soon. We brought you into this world at 2:36am, August 17, 1999 and watched you grow into the magnificent man you are.”
Tributes and the Community Response to Both Victims
The deaths of Wehr and Kramer have sent grief across two separate communities. Wehr’s loss was felt immediately across the Southern California automotive world, while Kramer’s death brought heartbreak to her family and friends in Florida.
South OC Cars and Coffee posted an announcement with a photograph of James and his father Simon: “This morning, just after midnight, we lost our darling son and brother James, in a motor accident.”
RDB LA, a prominent Los Angeles auto shop that had worked with Wehr, posted: “James was more than someone we worked with. He was a friend, a great person, and someone whose presence became part of our everyday lives.”
Kramer’s sister Gracie described the pain of losing a sibling who had traveled across the country to meet someone she had connected with online, only for the trip to end in tragedy.
The automotive community’s response has been both grieving and reflective. Multiple voices within the Southern California car scene have shared memories of Wehr’s generosity and approachability while acknowledging the dangers inherent in the culture that surrounds high-performance vehicles.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Was James Wehr pulled over by police before the crash?
Yes. The Irvine Police Department confirmed to TMZ that the Newport Beach Police Department stopped the McLaren before the fatal crash. The driver was given a warning and allowed to continue. The specific reason for the stop has not been disclosed.
Was James Wehr driving the McLaren?
Yes. The Irvine Police Department confirmed to TMZ that Wehr was behind the wheel of the McLaren at the time of the crash.
Who was the second victim in the crash?
Alexis “Lexi” Kramer, 22, from Lakeland, Florida. She was a bartender and 2026 Hooters calendar model. Her family confirmed her identity after speaking with multiple outlets.
How did James Wehr and Alexis Kramer know each other?
They connected through Instagram direct messages approximately one month before the crash and communicated daily. Wehr flew Kramer to California to meet him in person for the first time. She arrived roughly two days before the crash.
What happened in the crash?
At approximately 12:20 a.m. on September 13, 2026, a 2019 McLaren 720S accelerated from a traffic light at Culver Drive and Deerfield Avenue in Irvine at a high rate of speed. The driver lost control, the vehicle struck a curb and a tree, split into two pieces, and burst into flames. Both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.
What did they do the evening before the crash?
According to Kramer’s sister Gracie, the pair attended the South OC Cars and Coffee event earlier that Saturday, dined at Nobu, and later had drinks at the Pendry Hotel in Newport Beach. Wehr posted photos from the Pendry and later posted the image appearing to show the police stop.
Is the investigation complete?
No. The Irvine Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team is handling the case. The exact cause of the crash, toxicology results, and the reason for the Newport Beach police stop have not been finalized.
Was James Wehr married?
Yes. Wehr married his wife, Emma Wehr, approximately one year before his death. She released a public tribute on September 14, 2026.
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Last Updated on September 16, 2026 by 247 News Around The World
