Influencers James Wehr and Alexis "Lexi" Kramer, known for their car-related social media content, died in a fiery car crash in Irvine, California, in the early hours of Sep. 13.
A public statement from the Irvine Police Department
on Facebook that day said that the 2019 McLaren supercar crashed at high speed, and firefighters had to extinguish the wreckage before the two bodies inside could be identified.Wehr, 27, a notable social media influencer and pillar of the Irvine sports car community, was the first victim identified. He regularly shared car content online and was the co-founder of South OC Cars and Coffee, a weekly meet-up for automotive enthusiasts.
He boasts over 50,000 followers on his Instagram, @wehr. Many images on there show the all-black
McLaren that took his life.
IPD said in its preliminary investigation that the car lost control going northbound on Culver Drive at Deerfield Avenue, striking a curb and a tree. The vehicle split in two and burst into flames. An eyewitness, Sid, told ABC 7, "I was about to go to bed, and then I heard a big like, skrrrr and then a big boom. Me and my friends come out. Ginormous fire … The whole car is just gone."
Kramer, 22, wasn't identified by friends and family until Sep. 14, according to KTLA.
A family member said in a statement given to the New York Post that Kramer flew out from Lakeland, Florida, to meet Wehr on Sep. 11. She attended one of his car shows, aligning with her interests in “American muscle cars and motorcycles,” according to the family member.
On her Instagram, Kramer shared photos of herself riding motorcycles and talked about working as a Hooters "calendar girl" model. One photo she shared in June 2024 shows her with the late Hulk Hogan, donning her orange and white uniform and holding a WWE belt.
"She loved the car community, so it’s such a tragedy that that’s what ended her,” the family member added in their statement to the New York Post. "As you can imagine, this was very shocking and hard. She was kind and funny and charismatic, and I’ve had so many people reach out and share their wonderful experiences with Lexi."
Kramer's sister, Gracie, shared a tribute post for her sibling on Instagram. "My mother always told us growing up that there was always only one person meant to be with you and have your back no matter what and that would always be your sister," the post's caption reads.
Meanwhile, Wehr is being mourned by car enthusiasts everywhere, especially within his local community.
On Sep. 14, the Instagram page of Wehr's South OC Cars and Coffee shared a post honoring him. "Unfortunately, we have some really heavy news to share with you all," it reads. "This morning, just after midnight, we lost our darling son and brother James, in a motor accident. We respectfully ask for privacy as a family, as we process this profound loss."
Wehr's mother Sarah also shared a commemorative post for her son on Instagram before making her account private, according to People.
"It’s too soon. We brought you into this world at 2:36 am, August 17, 1999, and watched you grow into the magnificent man you are,” the post's caption reportedly read. “Your love for people, for your friends and your family, was second to none.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Car influencers James Wehr and Lexi Kramer dead in fiery crash
