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Popular car influencer James Wehr died after what police described as a “single-vehicle traffic collision” in the early hours of Sunday, September 13. He was 27.
Wehr was one of two passengers involved in a fiery car accident just after midnight on Sunday in Irvine, California.
The Irvine Police Department said in a statement via Facebook, “Today, at 12:18 a.m., the Irvine Police Department received calls of a traffic collision involving a vehicle on fire at Culver Drive and Deerfield Avenue. IPD and the Orange County Fire Authority responded to the scene. After OCFA extinguished the fire, two people were found dead inside the vehicle.”
Wehr’s family identified him as one of the passengers who died in the accident. The other passenger has not been identified.
According to Irvine police, the accident occurred when the driver of a 2019 McLaren “lost control of their vehicle” while traveling “northbound at a high speed.” The car “struck a curb and a tree” before it “split in two and caught fire.”
An eyewitness 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.”
James cofounded South OC Cars and Coffee, which describes itself as the “largest weekly car show in the world,” with his father, Simon Wehr. He had over 44,000 followers on Instagram.
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“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,” South OC Cars and Coffee said in an Instagram post shared by his parents, Simon and Sarah.
“We respectfully ask for privacy as a family as we process this profound loss,” the statement continued. “We would appreciate all of your good thoughts and prayers, and for those of you who knew James, thank you for being his friends, his mentors and his peers. Thank you for being his clients and his loved ones. We are grateful for all of you.”
The post concluded, “Please hug your loved ones tightly today. Tell them every day how valuable they are to you. Tell them you love them.”
James’ mother, Sarah, shared a separate Instagram tribute to her son on Sunday, writing, “It’s too soon. We brought you into this world at 2:36am, August 17, 1999, and watched you grow into the magnificent man you are.”
“Your love for people, for your friends and your family, was second to none. I remember your first steps at our home in Perth, Australia. The first time you said ‘Dada!’, your very first word. I remember you sleeping through the night at 8 weeks,” she continued. “I remember everything. All of it. Your insanely great belly laugh and your cheeky smile.”
“Thank you for all the years we were blessed to know and love you, James,” the influencer’s mom wrote. “This slices from all sides. I hope you’re getting a beer with Gramps as you both watch over us all. I love you, my handsome, hilarious son. 27 years, 21 days🕊️💔.”
