Car influencer and South OC Cars & Coffee co-founder James Wehr has died at 27 after a fiery McLaren crash in Irvine, California.
The fatal collision happened shortly after midnight on Sunday, Sept. 13. Irvine police and Orange County firefighters responded to reports of a vehicle fire at the intersection of Culver Drive and Deerfield Avenue. When firefighters extinguished the blaze, two people were found dead inside the wrecked vehicle.
Wehr was identified as one of the victims. The second person has not been publicly identified.
Fast Facts
- James Wehr: 27
- Date of crash: Sept. 13, 2026
- Location: Irvine, California
- Vehicle: 2019 McLaren
- Victims: 2
- Cause under investigation: Police say the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed before the crash
- Business: South OC Cars & Coffee
- Co-founder: Wehr and his father, Simon
What Happened in the James Wehr Crash?
According to Irvine police, the 2019 McLaren had been stopped northbound on Culver Drive at Deerfield Avenue.
After the traffic light turned green, investigators determined that the vehicle traveled at a high rate of speed before the driver lost control.
The McLaren struck a curb and then a tree. Police said the impact caused the vehicle to split in two and catch fire.
The Irvine Police Department and Orange County Fire Authority responded to the scene. After the flames were extinguished, authorities discovered two deceased occupants inside the vehicle.
The preliminary investigation remains ongoing.
A witness who spoke to ABC7 described hearing a loud screech followed by a major impact and seeing a large fire. Another witness praised the speed of the emergency response.
James Wehr’s Family Confirms His Death
Wehr’s family and the South OC Cars & Coffee community shared the news on social media.
The car show, which Wehr co-founded with his father Simon Wehr, announced his death in an Instagram post on Sept. 13, describing James as their “darling son and brother.”
The family also asked for privacy while mourning.
The post thanked the people who had known James as friends, mentors, peers, clients and loved ones, while urging people to stay close to those they care about.
Wehr’s wife, Emma, also paid tribute to him, describing him as one of the best people she had known.
His mother, Sarah, shared a separate tribute remembering her son from childhood through adulthood.
She recalled his first steps at the family’s home in Perth, Australia, his first word and the personality that made him memorable to those around him.
She also remembered his laugh and smile, writing about the shock of losing him at only 27.
A Major Figure in the Southern California Car Community
Wehr was not simply a social-media personality. He was one of the people behind South OC Cars & Coffee, a major weekly gathering for car enthusiasts in Southern California.
He ran the event with his father and other family members and volunteers.
According to the car show’s website, its weekly gatherings can attract between 1,000 and 3,000 vehicles, ranging from exotic and supercars to classics, muscle cars, motorcycles and off-road vehicles.
The event’s scale helped make Wehr a recognizable figure among Southern California’s automotive community.
His connection to high-performance cars was also reflected in his social-media presence, where he built an audience around automotive culture and the vehicles featured at events.
Tributes Continue After James Wehr’s Death
News of Wehr’s death quickly spread through the car community, with family members, friends and enthusiasts mourning the loss.
His mother shared photographs spanning his life, from childhood memories to more recent moments.
Her tribute emphasized not only his passion for cars but also his relationships with friends and family.
The South OC Cars & Coffee announcement similarly focused on the people who knew James personally, asking them to remember his life and the connections he made.
For a community built around shared enthusiasm for cars, Wehr’s death has left a particularly visible absence.
Investigation Into the Fatal Crash Continues
Police have released preliminary details about how the crash unfolded, including the vehicle’s reported speed and its collision with the curb and tree.
However, the investigation is still underway.
Authorities have identified Wehr as one of the two people killed, while the identity of the passenger has not been publicly released in the reports provided.
The crash occurred in the early hours of Sept. 13, and investigators will determine the remaining circumstances surrounding the collision.
James Wehr was 27 years old.
