Orange County prosecutors have charged Tommi Jo Mejer with involuntary manslaughter after her 14-year-old son allegedly struck and killed 81-year-old Ed Ashman with an e-motorcycle in Lake Forest. <\/p>\n
The incident occurred on April 16, when Mejer’s son, riding a Surron e-motorcycle, hit Ashman while performing wheelies near El Toro High School. Ashman, a Vietnam veteran and substitute teacher, succumbed to his injuries on April 30..<\/p>\n
Mejer, a resident of Aliso Viejo, was initially charged with child endangerment and accessory after the fact. On Friday, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office added the charge of involuntary manslaughter. Mejer could face up to seven years and eight months in prison if convicted on all counts, including contributing to the delinquency of a minor and providing false information to an officer.<\/p>\n
The district attorney, Todd Spitzer, stated, “This mother essentially handed her 14-year-old son a deadly weapon, and despite multiple warnings of the dangers, continued to let him illegally ride an e-motorcycle until he finally killed someone.” According to The Guardian<\/a>, Mejer had previously been warned by deputies about the legal risks of allowing her son to ride the e-motorcycle.<\/p>\n The e-motorcycle, a 2025 Surron Ultra Bee, can reach speeds of up to 56 mph, classifying it as a vehicle requiring a motorcycle license and a minimum rider age of 16. Mejer’s son, who fled the scene after the collision, was not legally allowed to operate the vehicle.<\/p>\n The case highlights growing concerns over parental accountability in incidents involving minors and e-motorcycles. Spitzer emphasized the need for parents to be held responsible, stating, “If parents aren\u2019t going to hold their children accountable, then I am going to hold parents accountable for hurting and killing innocent people while riding illegal motor vehicles.”<\/p>\n