Alexis “Lexi” Kramer, a 22-year-old woman from Lakeland, Florida, was identified as the second person killed in a fiery McLaren crash in Irvine, California, that also claimed the life of South OC Cars and Coffee co-founder James Wehr, 27.
The crash happened shortly after midnight on September 13 near Culver Drive and Deerfield Avenue. Irvine police said a 2019 McLaren accelerated at a high rate of speed after a traffic light turned green, lost control, crossed a curb and struck a tree. The vehicle split apart and caught fire, killing both occupants. Authorities have not publicly said who was driving and the investigation remains ongoing.
Kramer’s family identified her as the second victim, while the Orange County coroner had not initially released the names. Her family also provided dental records to the medical examiner as part of the identification process.
Who was Alexis “Lexi” Kramer?
Kramer was a bartender from Lakeland who had recently completed an associate’s degree at Polk State College.
According to her sister, Gracie Kramer, Lexi had also recently accepted a new job in a leadership role. Her Instagram profile described her as a 2026 Hooters calendar girl.
Her family described her as outgoing, funny and charismatic, with a strong interest in cars and the automotive community.
That connection to the car world was especially poignant given the circumstances of her death. Her family said she loved the car community and had been looking forward to spending time around that world during her California trip.
How did Lexi Kramer meet James Wehr?
According to Kramer’s family, she and Wehr had been communicating through Instagram for about a month before they met in person.
Kramer flew from Lakeland to California on Friday, September 11. A family member told the California Post that Wehr paid for her flight.
The pair reportedly spent time together over the weekend, including dinner at Nobu and drinks at the Pendry Hotel before the fatal crash.
The exact circumstances of what happened in the hours before the collision remain part of the ongoing investigation.
What happened in the McLaren crash?
Irvine police said the McLaren had been stopped at a red light near Culver Drive and Deerfield Avenue.
When the light changed, the car traveled at a high rate of speed before the driver lost control. It then struck a curb and a tree. The impact caused the vehicle to split in two before it caught fire.
Emergency responders found two people inside the wreckage. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police have not publicly determined who was behind the wheel or announced what caused the driver to lose control.
Was Lexi the driver?
That has not been established publicly.
Early reports identified Wehr as one of the victims, but authorities had not initially named the second person or disclosed which occupant was driving. Family members later identified Kramer as the second victim.
Any claim that either Wehr or Kramer was responsible for the crash would therefore be premature while investigators continue examining the circumstances.
What was Lexi doing before the crash?
Her family said the California trip was planned around meeting Wehr, whom she had known online for about a month.
The pair reportedly went out for dinner and drinks before returning to the car. Wehr posted an image from the Pendry Hotel shortly before the crash, followed by a photograph of the McLaren during what appeared to be a police stop, according to the source report.
Those social media posts have drawn attention because of how close they were to the fatal collision, although they do not establish what happened immediately before the crash.
Why was Lexi described as a Hooters calendar girl?
Kramer’s Instagram biography reportedly identified her as a 2026 Hooters calendar girl.
That detail has become one of the more widely reported aspects of her background following her death, but her family has emphasized a much broader picture of her life.
She had been working, recently earned an associate’s degree and was preparing to begin a new leadership role. Her sister’s tribute focused on their close relationship rather than her public image.
“My mother always told us growing up that there was always only one person meant to be with you and have your back no matter what and that would always be your sister,” Gracie wrote in an Instagram tribute.
She described Lexi as her “other half.”
How has Lexi’s family remembered her?
Kramer’s family has described her as someone whose personality filled a room.
Her sister’s tribute portrayed Lexi as a best friend as much as a sibling, remembering her humor, attitude and close bond with the family.
The emotional response has also spread through the automotive community, where tributes have been shared following the deaths of both Kramer and Wehr.
For her family, however, the focus remains on the person behind the headlines: a young woman who had recently graduated, started a new career opportunity and was building a life of her own.
Who was James Wehr?
Wehr was a 27-year-old automotive personality and co-founder of South OC Cars and Coffee, a weekly car gathering in San Clemente that is described by its organizers as one of the world’s largest weekly car shows.
The event draws thousands of vehicles and has become a major meeting point for Southern California’s car enthusiasts.
His family confirmed his death through the event’s social media account and asked for privacy as they mourned.
The deaths of Wehr and Kramer have therefore resonated across two different communities: Wehr’s established automotive network and Kramer’s family, friends and followers in Florida.
What are police investigating?
The Irvine Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team is handling the case.
Police have confirmed the basic sequence of the collision but have not released a final explanation for why the vehicle lost control. The driver’s identity and any potential contributing factors remain under investigation.
That means details circulating online, including speculation about the events immediately before the crash, should be treated cautiously unless they are confirmed by investigators or court records.
A young life remembered beyond the headlines
The circumstances of Lexi Kramer’s death have attracted considerable attention because of the luxury sports car, the high-speed crash and her connection to the Hooters calendar.
But her family’s tributes present a fuller portrait.
She was a 22-year-old from Florida who had recently earned a college degree, started a new professional chapter and traveled across the country for a weekend that ended tragically.
The investigation into the crash is still underway. For her loved ones, the questions surrounding the collision remain, but so does the memory of Lexi as a daughter, sister, friend and young woman whose life had only just begun to take shape.
