Witnesses have described the terrifying incident when a McLaren crashed into a tree, splitting in half, resulting in the deaths of two individuals in Southern California.
James Wehr, 27, the founder of South OC Cars and Coffee—the largest weekly car show globally—was killed alongside another person when the high-powered vehicle ignited in flames in Irvine shortly after midnight on Saturday.
According to investigators, the car was stationary at a traffic light before it sped off northward when the light turned green.
The supercar was reportedly traveling at a high speed when the driver seemingly lost control. One witness mentioned hearing the tragic sound of the crash.
“I was about to go to bed when I heard this huge, like, skrrr sound followed by a massive boom. My friends and I rushed out and saw this ginormous fire,” a witness named Sid told ABC7. “The entire car was just obliterated.”
Wehr was recognized as a prominent figure in the automobile community in Southern California and had participated in one of the usual meetups earlier in the day. Just hours before the accident, he had posted a picture on Instagram that showed a police car behind him in Newport Beach.
After the McLaren hit a curb, it collided with a tree with such intensity that it broke apart and caught on fire, according to police reports. “When the flames were extinguished, the two individuals were discovered dead inside the wreckage,” said Kyle Oldoerp, a spokesperson for the Irvine Police Department.
Emergency crews from Orange County Fire Authority rushed to the scene following reports of the fiery single-vehicle accident.
Wehr’s family identified him among the victims of the crash, but the Orange County Coroner’s Office has not yet released additional details regarding the deceased. It’s still uncertain whether another vehicle was involved, and the investigation into the circumstances leading up to the crash is ongoing.
Following James’s tragic death, his wife Emma shared touching tributes on social media, reflecting on their time together. “James, I never imagined I would have to say a final goodbye. Loving you will always be the greatest gift of my life,” she wrote. “You were smart, kind, funny, loving—truly one of the best people I’ve had the privilege to know.”
