South Orange County Cars & Coffee co-founder killed in McLaren crash
James Wehr, 27, co-founder of the South OC Cars & Coffee weekly show, died after a McLaren 720S crashed and caught fire in Irvine, California, authorities said.
Police and fire crews responded to a single-vehicle collision at the intersection of Culver Drive and Deerfield Avenue in Irvine shortly after midnight on Saturday. A 2019 McLaren 720S was found split in two and ablaze, and investigators said the vehicle’s driver accelerated from a red light, struck a curb and then hit a tree, causing the severe damage.
South OC Cars & Coffee confirmed that its co-founder, 27-year-old James Wehr, was among the two occupants who died in the wreckage. The identity of the passenger has not been disclosed. Authorities have not yet determined who was driving at the time of the crash and the investigation remains ongoing.
Wehr, who co-founded the weekly car meet with his father Simon and sister-in-law Sarah, was a prominent figure in the regional automotive community, frequently appearing on podcasts and social-media posts. The event, billed as “the world’s largest weekly car show,” regularly showcases high-performance vehicles, including a recent appearance by a Red Bull Formula 1 car.
"We are devastated by James’s loss and extend our deepest condolences to his family," a spokesperson for South OC Cars & Coffee said.
The incident has prompted an outpouring of sympathy from car enthusiasts, while some online comments have been criticized for insensitivity.