The wreckage of a McLaren 720S involved in a fatal crash in Irvine last month spontaneously ignited while stored at a secured tow facility in Costa Mesa, authorities reported. The incident occurred approximately 31 days after the vehicle was involved in a high-speed collision that claimed the lives of the driver and passenger.

The crash took place on September 13, when James Wehr, 27, co-founder of a popular Instagram page called South OC Cars and Coffee, was driving the 2019 McLaren through Irvine. According to Irvine police, the vehicle accelerated rapidly from a red light, mounted a curb, and struck a tree. The impact caused the vehicle to split in two and catch fire at the scene. Alexis Helena Kramer, 22, a passenger from Florida, was also killed in the crash.

After the accident, the severely damaged McLaren was transported to a police-contracted secure storage facility in Costa Mesa, where it was kept pending investigation. On Saturday, police released security footage showing a small flame spontaneously appearing from the front section of the car’s wreckage inside the dark storage room. The fire quickly grew, filling the area with smoke before being extinguished by emergency responders.

Costa Mesa Fire and Rescue investigators have launched an inquiry into the cause of the sudden blaze. Preliminary assessments indicate that no individuals were present or interacted with the vehicle prior to the fire. Officers noted the vehicle had suffered extensive structural and electrical damage in the original crash, which may have contributed to the incident.

Kyle Oldoerp, the Irvine Police Department’s public information officer, said it remains uncertain whether the post-crash fire will impact the ongoing investigation into the fatal collision. “We hope not,” Oldoerp said. “We’re still evaluating that. The vehicle broke apart and was heavily damaged already.” He added that authorities are coordinating with McLaren officials and independent experts to examine the wreckage, taking into consideration that many McLaren vehicles are prone to heavy modifications after purchase.

McLaren 720S models are high-performance sports cars capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in under three seconds and reaching top speeds exceeding 200 mph. These vehicles are known for their advanced engineering and often carry six-figure price tags, with some limited editions valued much higher.

The Irvine Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team continues to probe the circumstances surrounding the crash and is working to determine contributing factors involved in the tragic event. Officials from the Costa Mesa Fire Department have not yet disclosed whether the fire caused collateral damage to other vehicles at the storage site.