An early Sunday morning crash on Culver Drive in Irvine claimed the lives of a 27-year-old car enthusiast and a 22-year-old Florida model, prompting a makeshift memorial and renewed community focus on street safety. The fiery incident, which saw a luxury sports car split in two, occurred after the vehicle reportedly lost control and slammed into a towering pine tree. Family members identified James Wehr, a prominent figure in the local car community, as one of the victims. The passenger was identified by her family as Alexis Kramer, who was visiting for the weekend. The Orange County coroner has not yet publicly identified the individuals killed.
The 2019 McLaren, heading north on Culver Drive, reportedly stopped at a red light at Deerfield Avenue just before the crash. Police stated that when the light turned green, the driver accelerated quickly, leaving dark tire marks on the intersection pavement. The vehicle then veered to the right, jumped a curb, and struck the tree, leading to the car splitting and bursting into flames. Irvine Police Department spokesperson Kyle Oldoerp indicated that investigators believe speed was likely a factor, noting, "You need to have sufficient speed to be able to do that." The posted speed limit on that section of Culver Drive is 50 mph.
James Wehr, born in Australia, was known in Orange County as the co-founder of South OC Cars & Coffee, a weekly meetup for car enthusiasts in San Clemente described as the world's biggest weekly car show. His mother, Sarah Wehr, posted a social media tribute, expressing profound grief and remembering his "insanely great belly laugh and your cheeky smile." Court records show that Wehr had been ticketed for more than a dozen vehicle code violations since 2017, including four this year for issues such as failing to display license plates, not having his registration card and proof of insurance, and not having a working muffler. In 2023, he was accused of driving over 100 mph, an infraction he pleaded not guilty to, which was later dismissed in 2024.
Alexis Kramer, a Florida native, was visiting Wehr for the weekend, her family told the California Post. Her sister, Kaitlin Kramer, shared a social media tribute describing Alexis as her "other half" and expressing deep sorrow. Like Wehr, Kramer appeared to have a passion for cars and motorcycles, and was a model for the 2026 Hooters calendar. The nature of Wehr and Kramer’s relationship is unclear. Kaitlin Kramer wrote on social media that Wehr had told her sister he was "almost fully divorced and extremely separated," and a family member told the California Post that Wehr had invited Kramer to California after they had been communicating on Instagram for approximately one month. Wehr had married his wife, Emma, in July 2025 at the Grand Gimeno venue in Old Towne Orange, and Emma Wehr, on Instagram, expressed deep gratitude for their time together, stating her heart would always find its way to him. Her account has since become private.
Hours before the fatal crash, Wehr was stopped by a Newport Beach police officer. Newport Beach police spokesperson Heather Rangel confirmed that an officer initiated a traffic stop at 7:21 p.m. Saturday near Newport Boulevard and Finley Avenue after observing a vehicle with a loud exhaust. The stop resulted in a warning issued to the driver.
The incident occurs in a city that has long contended with issues of speeding and reckless driving. Irvine's wide, straight streets have for years provided a prime location for speeding, street racing, and takeovers, drawing complaints from residents about high-powered cars and revving engines into the early morning hours. Oldoerp commented that "At night it's like a wide open freeway."
In response to these concerns, the Irvine Police Department has intensified its efforts against speeding and street racing, utilizing drones and other technology. In 2020, the department joined other agencies to form the Orange County Street Racing/Takeover Enforcement Team. Data shows an increase in enforcement, with 25 arrests and 309 citations issued in 2021 for street racing and reckless driving, up from 19 arrests and 195 citations in 2016. Concurrently, annual traffic collisions in the city declined from 590 in 2016 to 93 in 2021. Oldoerp affirmed that the department is "very aggressive with street racing."
At the site of the crash, a makeshift memorial has grown around the base of the charred pine tree. Dozens of bouquets, including roses, daisies, and white lilies, are scattered among fallen pine needles. Toy versions of exotic sports cars, including a Hot Wheels Porsche, are also present, an apparent homage to Wehr’s passion for automobiles. A silver cross on a long chain hangs from the tree’s blackened and peeling bark, with passersby pausing to reflect on the scene.
