Archive · 14 Sep 2026
South OC Cars and Coffee Founder James Wehr Killed
James Wehr was a 27-year-old man who helped start a large weekly car show.
He died early Saturday in Irvine, California.
He was riding in a 2019 McLaren with another person.
Police said the car sped away from a traffic light and then lost control.
It hit a curb and a tree before catching fire.
Both people inside died at the scene.
About an hour earlier, Wehr had posted a picture appearing to show a police car behind his vehicle.
Officials have not said whether that earlier stop was connected to the crash.
Many people in the car community shared tributes after his death.
James Wehr, 27, co-founder of South OC Cars and Coffee, died in a fiery McLaren crash in Irvine, California.
The single-vehicle crash occurred around 12:20 a.m. Saturday at Culver Drive and Deerfield Avenue.
Police said the 2019 McLaren accelerated north at high speed after a red light, lost control, hit a curb and struck a tree.
Wehr and an unidentified passenger were pronounced dead at the scene after the vehicle split apart and caught fire.
South OC Cars and Coffee grew into a major weekly event attracting 800 to 2,500 vehicles and thousands of spectators.
- Who
- James Wehr, 27, and an unidentified passenger were killed; Wehr co-founded South OC Cars and Coffee with his father, Simon Wehr.
- What
- A 2019 McLaren crashed into a curb and a tree, split apart and caught fire, killing both occupants.
- When
- Around 12:20 a.m. on Saturday, September 12; Wehr had posted about an apparent traffic stop roughly one hour earlier.
- Where
- The crash occurred at Culver Drive and Deerfield Avenue in Irvine, Southern California.
- Why
- According to the preliminary investigation, the McLaren traveled at a high rate of speed after the light turned green, and the driver lost control.
- Driver
- James Wehr was identified as one of the two people killed.
- Vehicle
- 2019 McLaren
- Crash time
- Approximately 12:20 a.m. Saturday
- Crash location
- Culver Drive and Deerfield Avenue, Irvine, California
- Casualties
- Wehr and one unidentified passenger died at the scene.
- Car show
- South OC Cars and Coffee typically drew 800 to 2,500 vehicles and thousands of spectators.
- Earlier post
- About an hour before the crash, Wehr posted an Instagram story appearing to show a Newport Beach police cruiser behind his vehicle.