The wrecked McLaren 720S involved in a fatal crash in Southern California has caught fire for a second time, more than a month after its two occupants were killed.
The black supercar burst into flames late on Wednesday while it was being held at a secure, police-contracted storage facility in Costa Mesa. Nobody was injured in the blaze.
Surveillance footage shows sparks emerging from the front of the mangled vehicle before flames spread through the wreckage and thick smoke filled the garage, obscuring the camera’s view.
The car had been stored at the facility since the September 13 crash in Irvine, which claimed the lives of car influencer James Wehr, 27, and Alexis ‘Lexi’ Kramer, 22.
Investigators believe the McLaren’s badly damaged electrical system may have caused the fire, although the precise trigger has not been established.
Kyle Oldoerp, a spokesperson for Irvine Police Department, confirmed that the incident took place at a Costa Mesa facility contracted to store vehicles involved in crashes.
Costa Mesa Fire and Rescue is investigating. Police said arson was not suspected.
The fatal McLaren crash in Irvine
Wehr and Kramer were killed when the high-powered car struck a kerb and slammed into a tree at about 12.20am, shortly after accelerating away from traffic lights.
The impact split the vehicle apart and it caught fire. Police later identified Wehr as the driver.
Kramer, a bartender from Lakeland, Florida, had travelled to California two days earlier to meet Wehr after the pair began communicating on Instagram. Her sister, Gracie Kramer, said they had been in contact for about a month before Wehr paid for the flight.
The pair spent the day at Wehr’s South OC Cars and Coffee gathering before dining at Nobu and visiting the Pendry Hotel in Newport Beach for drinks.
Wehr had built a prominent reputation among California’s supercar enthusiasts. Alongside his father, Simon, he founded South OC Cars and Coffee, described as the world’s largest weekly car show.
Kramer had recently earned an associate’s degree from Polk State College and secured a new job in a leadership position. Her sister described her as “kind and funny and charismatic”.
Wehr’s widow, Emma, paid tribute to him after his death, describing their relationship as one of the greatest blessings of her life.
