The wrecked McLaren involved in the fiery crash that killed driver James Wehr and passenger Lexi Kramer erupted in flames again more than a month later at a secured tow yard in Southern California, authorities said.
The supercar’s front end caught fire late Wednesday night at a Costa Mesa facility contracted by the Irvine Police Department to store vehicles involved in collisions, police said Saturday.
Surveillance video released by authorities shows sparks emerging from the wreckage before the blaze intensified. Thick smoke then filled the storage garage, eventually blocking the camera’s view.
No injuries were reported, Irvine police Public Information Officer Kyle Oldoerp said.
The unexpected fire broke out weeks after Wehr and Kramer were killed in a devastating Sept. 13 crash at the intersection of Deerfield and Culver in Irvine.
Police said Wehr was behind the wheel when he lost control of the McLaren and crashed into a tree, according to video from the original collision.
The force of the impact tore the vehicle apart and caused extensive damage to its electrical system.
Investigators believe that damage could have contributed to the McLaren catching fire while it was being stored at the tow yard.
Costa Mesa Fire and Rescue is investigating the blaze. Authorities have not determined a definitive cause, but police said arson is not suspected.
The fatal Irvine crash and the events that followed have also focused attention on the relationship between Wehr and Kramer.
The two were reportedly romantically involved. Kramer’s family, however, alleged that Wehr had misled her about the status of his marriage to his wife, Emma.
Wehr’s widow later retained an accident attorney after the deadly crash.
Investigations into both the fatal collision and the later tow-yard fire are ongoing.
