The Southern California car community is in mourning after the death of James Wehr, the 27-year-old co-founder of South OC Cars and Coffee. According to the Irvine Police Department, a 2019 McLaren was speeding northbound on Culver Drive just after midnight Sunday when the driver lost control, struck a curb and a tree, and the vehicle split in two and caught fire. Three people in the car, including Wehr, died at the scene.
Wehr co-founded South OC Cars and Coffee alongside his father, Simon, and built a following of more than 44,000 people on Instagram. The meetup became a staple of Orange County car culture, drawing supercars, classics, and a devoted weekend crowd. His family confirmed his death in an Instagram statement, asking for privacy while thanking friends and the wider community for their support.
The statement closed with a line that has been widely reshared: hug your loved ones tightly today, and tell them every day how valuable they are to you. The Irvine Police Department’s investigation into the crash is ongoing. If this story has you thinking about someone, what’s stopping you from telling them today?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.