Add The California Post on Google Witnesses have recalled the horrifying moment a McLaren crashed into a tree and ripped in two in Southern California, killing two people.
James Wehr, 27, founder of the world’s biggest weekly car show, South OC Cars and Coffee, died along with another person when the supercar erupted into flames in Irvine shortly after midnight Saturday.
Investigators said the vehicle had been stopped at a traffic light before accelerating northbound after the light turned green.
The high-performance sports car was traveling at a high rate of speed when the driver apparently lost control, police said. One person heard the deadly crash.
“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,” a witness identified as Sid told ABC7. “The whole car is just gone.”
“These cops are really good, they’re really fast,” he added.
The McLaren struck a curb before smashing into a tree with such force that the vehicle broke apart and caught fire.
“When the fire was put out, they were found deceased inside their vehicle,” Irvine Police Department representative Kyle Oldoerp said.
Officers and Orange County Fire Authority crews raced to the scene after receiving reports of the fiery single-vehicle wreck.
Wehr’s family members identified him as a victim of the Irvine crash. However, the Orange County Coroner’s Office has not released any details about the two victims.
The California Post has contacted the office for comment. Police have not said whether another vehicle was involved, and the circumstances leading up to the crash remain under investigation.
Wehr had spent the day surrounded by the car culture that made him well known in Southern California. He was the founder of South OC Cars and Coffee, a massive weekly gathering for car enthusiasts.
He had attended one of the regular meetups earlier that day. Just hours before the fatal crash, he also appeared to post a photo on Instagram showing a police cruiser behind him in Newport Beach.
Following his death, Wehr’s wife Emma shared a series of photographs of the couple and paid tribute to her husband.
“James, I never thought the day would come that I’d have to say such a final goodbye. Getting the opportunity to love you will always be the greatest blessing in my life,” she wrote.
“You’re smart, kind, funny, loving, and genuinely one of the best people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing,” she added.
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