Man Killed In Violent McLaren Crash ID'd As South OC Cars And Coffee Founder

IRVINE, CA — A man killed in a fiery car crash in Irvine early Sunday morning was ID'd as a 27-year-old man with extensive ties to the Orange County community.

The crash happened at around 12:20 a.m. Sunday morning, when a 2019 McLaren heading north on Deerfield Avenue near Culver Drive at a high rate of speed struck a tree, split in half and burst into flames, according to the Irvine Police Department.

Firefighters quelled the flames, but found both occupants inside the car dead.

Australian-born James Wehr, co-founder of South OC Cars and Coffee — an event billed as "the world's largest weekly car show," was in the vehicle.

"South OC Cars and Coffee family. Unfortunately, we have some really heavy news to share with you all. This morning, just after midnight, we lost our darling son and brother James, in a motor accident," the car club wrote on Instagram. "We respectfully ask for privacy as a family, as we process this profound loss."

While the identity of the victims were not confirmed by the Orange County Coroner, the car club and Wehr's family confirmed his death in social media posts later that Sunday.

The second person in the vehicle was not immediately identified.

"You always reassured me that I had you in my corner, and when I was at my lowest of lows, you were always there for me without hesitation," Six Speed Detail LLC wrote on Instagram. "I promise to make you proud as you watch over us all from up above. Love you, brotha."