James Wehr: Car Influencer Had History of Traffic Violations, Speeding Before McLaren Crash that Also Killed Hooter’s Calendar Girl

James Wehr had a history of traffic violations before the fiery McLaren crash in Irvine that claimed the lives of the car influencer and his passenger. TMZ reported that court records show Wehr was cited in Westminster, California, on Feb. 7, 2025, for driving 75 mph in a 65-mph speed zone. He was driving a black 2017 Audi when he was pulled over.

The records also list citations related to an expired driver’s license, tinted windows and a missing front license plate on the Audi. Wehr, 27, who co-founded South OC Cars and Coffee, died on Sept. 13 after his 2019 McLaren crashed in Irvine, split apart and caught fire.

Always Reckless

Alexis “Lexi” Kramer, 22, also died in the crash. The crash occurred shortly after midnight. Irvine police said Wehr accelerated rapidly after a traffic light turned green, then lost control of the McLaren, which hit a curb and a tree.

Dashcam video from another vehicle appears to show the McLaren driving over water on the road shortly before the crash.

The car’s brake lights come on before it veers to the right and crashes into a tree.

The wet road has since become a major focus for Wehr’s widow, Emma, who retained attorney Corey Higgins of iAccidentLawyer days after the crash.

Higgins is investigating where the water came from and whether it played a role in the fatal collision.

Kramer’s family has also expressed anger over the circumstances surrounding her death. Her sister Gracie Kramer said the two had met on Instagram and spent roughly a month communicating before her trip. The young bartender, whose Instagram bio described her as a 2026 Hooters calendar girl, shared Wehr’s interest in cars and motorcycles.

She had spent the weekend on what was their first date, accompanying him to his hugely popular auto show and later spending time with him. “She loved the car community, so it’s such a tragedy that that’s what ended her,” Gracie told the California Post.

Wehr paid for Lexi’s flight from Florida after telling her that he and his wife, Emma Wehr, had separated and were finalizing their divorce, according to Kramer’s sister.

However, Gracie said she questioned whether her sister had been told the truth. Orange County court records reviewed by the California Post reportedly showed that no divorce case involving Wehr had been filed.

“That man lied to my sister and said his divorce was finalizing and he was fully separated,” Gracie said. “[He] talked to her every day all the time and finally got her to fly out to California to come see him.”

One Shock after Another

The pair attended Wehr’s South OC Cars and Coffee event for part of the day Saturday before going out together that evening. Gracie said they later dined at Nobu and had drinks at the Pendry Hotel in Newport Beach in the hours leading up to the fatal crash.

Wehr shared a photo from the Pendry on Instagram before later posting an image that appeared to show his black 2019 McLaren 720S stopped by police. The reason for the traffic stop remains unclear.

Gracie said her family provided dental records to the medical examiner as officials worked to confirm her sister’s identity. Kramer’s death came just as she appeared to be entering a promising new phase in her life.

She had recently received an associate’s degree from Polk State College and, according to Gracie, had secured a new leadership role at another company.

The supercar struck a curb before crashing into a tree at about 12:20 a.m. The impact tore the McLaren apart and sparked a fire, killing both Wehr and Kramer. Authorities have yet to disclose who was behind the wheel, while investigators continue working to determine what caused the fatal crash.

Gracie remembered her sister as “kind and funny and charismatic,” adding that friends and others who knew Lexi had flooded the family with messages and memories following her death.

“As you can imagine, this was very shocking and hard,” she said.

In a heartfelt Instagram post, Gracie remembered how their mother had taught the sisters that they should always be there for one another. “Lexi was so much more than just my best friend, she was all of my love, my heart, my attitude, and my humor wrapped into a smaller, more chaotic, less filtered, package,” she wrote. “She was my other half.”