The founder of a popular car show died in a fiery crash in California after his McLaren collided with a tree, just an hour after police had stopped the vehicle.
James Wehr, 27, was killed when the supercar split in two and burst into flames during the early-morning crash in Irvine on Saturday.
Wehr, owner of South OC Cars and Coffee, which holds weekly car events, was traveling in a 2019 McLaren 720S with another driver. Both men died, according to police.
Friends and family identified Wehr as one of the victims on social media. About an hour before the fatal collision, he posted an Instagram video showing a police car parked behind the black McLaren in Newport Beach.
It remains unclear why officers had stopped the vehicle.
Soon afterward, Wehr shared another photograph of the McLaren parked outside the Pendry hotel.
Investigators said the car had been stopped at a traffic light before accelerating at a high rate of speed. The driver then lost control of the vehicle.
The McLaren struck a curb and crashed into a tree at about 12:20 a.m., Irvine police said. The impact split the vehicle apart and killed both occupants.
Authorities have not determined the full circumstances of the crash, including whether any other vehicles were involved.
James Wehr, 27, died after the supercar split in two and burst into flames following the early-morning crash in Irvine, California
The car struck a curb and crashed into a tree at about 12:20 a.m., splitting in two and catching fire as both occupants were killed
The owner of South OC Cars and Coffee, which hosts weekly car shows, was traveling in a 2019 McLaren 720S with another driver, who also died
Sarah Wehr, the entrepreneur’s mother, described her son as a ‘magnificent man’ with a love for his people, family and friend that was ‘second to none.’
‘I remember your first steps at our home in Perth, Australia. The first time you said “Dada!”, your very first word. I remember you sleeping through the night at 8 weeks. I remember everything. All of it,’ she wrote on Instagram.
‘Your insanely great belly-laugh and your cheeky smile. Thank you for all the years we were blessed to know and love you James. This slices from all sides. I hope you’re getting a beer with Gramps as you both watch over us all. I love you son.’
Emma, Wehr’s wife, posted an emotional set of photos of the pair, including on their wedding day, alongside a heartbreaking tribute to her late husband.
‘James, I never thought the day would come that I’d have to say such a final goodbye,’ she wrote.
‘Getting the opportunity to love you will always be the greatest blessing in my life. I grew up with you and you opened my eyes to everything the world had to offer. You had such a zest for life and drive like no one I’ve ever met.
‘You’re smart, kind, funny, loving, and genuinely one of the best people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. Like I said in my vows, I’m so grateful to have gotten the chance to live my life at the same time that you lived yours and whether its in this lifetime or the next my heart will always find its way to you. Rest easy my love.’
His sister, Sophie Wehr, posted a collection of childhood photos with her brother and said: ‘James, thank you. I’ll live every day with you in mind and do everything I can to make you proud.’
Emma, Wehr’s wife pictured above, posted an emotional set of photos of the pair, including on their wedding day, alongside a heartbreaking tribute to her late husband
Wehr had posted a clip on Instagram of a police car parked behind the black supercar at Newport Beach just an hour before the deadly crash
Emma described her husband as ‘smart, kind, funny, loving, and genuinely one of the best people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing’
‘I can’t imagine a world without you,’ she added. ‘I love you so much, I always will.’
‘My darling nephew James.. Rest easy beautiful boy. I will always love you. You left a legacy and will be in our hearts forever,’ his aunt, Milly, wrote.
Wehr had attended a car show hosted by South OC Cars and Coffee just earlier that day.
‘It was so exciting to see everything roll in,’ Sarah Wehr wrote. ‘Thank you to our incredibly excellent volunteers, as well as everyone who brought their cars, bikes and trucks. Love this community so much.’
Wehr co-founded the car show with his father, Simon Wehr, and spent years hosting the meets together every Saturday at the Outlets at San Clemente.
The organization estimated that from 800 to 2,500 vehicles attend the events.
‘Getting to see people come out every week and enjoy the show. We see multiple generations of people walking around with their cars, and it’s a great environment. We’re super lucky,’ Wehr previously said of the shows, according to the Post.
Frankie, a friend and fellow car-enthusiast, recalled working with Wehr at a restaurant and watching him ‘become so successful in the automotive industry.’
Sarah Wehr, the entrepreneur’s mother pictured above, described her son as a ‘magnificent man’ with a love for his people, family and friend that was ‘second to none’
Wehr co-founded the car show with his father, Simon Wehr pictured above, and spent years hosting the meets together every Saturday at the Outlets at San Clemente
Wehr’s sister, Sophie Wehr pictured, posted a collection of childhood photos with her brother and said: ‘I’ll live every day with you in mind and do everything I can to make you proud’
‘You were someone I truly admired and looked up to,’ he wrote. ‘You always showed me love, while talking more s*** than anyone else could. Things won’t be the same without you around, and I’ll cherish every memory we ever had.’
‘The fact that you supported me and wanted to be the first guest on my podcast meant more to me than you know. You are family bro,’ he continued.
‘I just wish I had one more chance to laugh with you, hear you talk your s***, and tell you how much you meant to me. I love you and miss you.’
Amanda, another friend and frequenter of South OC Cars and Coffee car meets, described Wehr as a ‘modern day Paul Walker’ and ‘an icon in the car the community.’
‘This will not only rock the local car groups, but it will do so world wide. I have had the pleasure of meeting fans, friends, and followers of his from out of state as well as out of country. You will be missed James. Thank you for creating a community that became a family,’ she wrote.
‘He was a photographer, car enthusiast, entrepreneur, and more. He was a son, husband, friend, leader, and icon in the car community. He will be forever missed. He passed away on Paul Walkers birthday, if that isn’t a sign or a testament I don’t know what is,’ she wrote on a separate post.
‘James Wehr, you touched hearts of people from Southern California, to Australia, and even further around the world…We are so proud of him and everything he accomplished in his life time. Though he was taken from us too soon, his memory lives on in each and every one of us. Thank you for creating a community for us James, a family, and a home.’
Jasper, another friend and car enthusiast, said Wehr was one of his ‘biggest inspirations and one to keep pushing me in life for the better part of a decade.’
Wehr previously said of the shows: ‘We see multiple generations of people walking around with their cars, and it’s a great environment. We’re super lucky’
Wehr, seen with his family, had attended a car show hosted by South OC Cars and Coffee just earlier that day
Friends described Wehr as one of the ‘biggest inspirations,’ a ‘modern day Paul Walker’ and an ‘icon in the car community’
‘To be honest, there were times where I wanted to be just like you, but in my own way,’ he said.
‘I think we’ve driven thousands of miles together, on rallies, drives, swapping cars and doing road trips together. Plus our trips, events, drinks, cigars, deep talks, and the hundreds of hours we spent together playing games with the rest of them.
‘We had big dreams, big goals, promises we made each other. And when it’s all said and done, and I see you again, you’ll see that we achieved it all. I’m going to miss you, but I’ll never forget you.’
Our News Outlet reached out to the California Highway Patrol, the Irvine Police Department and South OC Cars and Coffee for comment.
