LATEST FLORES – Sad news covers Orange County, California. Ed Ashman, an 81-year-old Marine veteran who was also known as a dedicated substitute teacher, has passed away. His death was not due to old age, but rather as a result of a tragic accident involving an electric motorbike (e-motorcycle) driven illegally by a teenage boy. This incident shocked the public and triggered an unusual legal step: the teenager’s mother is now charged with manslaughter.
On April 16, Ed Ashman, who had just returned from teaching from El Toro High School in Lake Forest, was walking as usual. This man, respected by many, was a friendly and humble figure, with a wealth of heroic stories from his time in the US Marine Corps, including combat missions in Vietnam. However, that afternoon, his peaceful routine was shattered.
A Surron Ultra Bee e-motorcycle, which is capable of speeds up to 90 km/h, hit him while being driven by a 14 year old teenager who was doing a wheelie or lifting the front wheel in the area of Toledo Way and Ridge Route Drive. Ashman suffered critical injuries. He struggled for two weeks in hospital before finally breathing his last breath on Thursday, April 30.
Negligent Maternal Responsibilities and Ignored Warnings
Ed Ashman’s death completely changed the course of this case. Tommi Jo Mejer, the mother of the teenage e-motorcycle rider, who had previously been indicted on charges of child endangerment and accessory after the fact, now faces an additional, much more serious charge: involuntary manslaughter.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer isn’t messing around. He asserted that this mother “essentially handed her 14-year-old son a deadly weapon, and despite repeated warnings about the dangers, continued to let him ride his e-motorcycle illegally until he finally killed someone.” Statements from prosecutors revealed that Mejer was not actually blind to the risks his son was taking.
Warning from Law Enforcement Officials
In June 2025, nearly a year before the crash, sheriff’s deputies had spent nearly 30 minutes explicitly warning Mejer. They explained that the vehicle was illegal for their underage son to drive without a license, and that he could face criminal charges. The deputy’s body camera footage even captured Mejer admitting that he purchased the vehicle and “knew that his son was driving it recklessly.”
Ironically, after the fatal accident occurred, Mejer allegedly tried to cover his tracks. He told deputies that neither he nor his son owned or had access to the Surron e-motorcycle. This lie only worsened his position in the eyes of the law.
Broad Legal Implications for Parents
This case made headlines because it set a new legal precedent regarding the criminal responsibility of parents. Generally, criminal charges against parents are more common in cases of juvenile delinquency or shooting incidents involving minors. However, the application of the theory of “criminal negligence” in e-motorcycle cases is relatively new. Law professor Lawrence Rosenthal of Chapman University notes, “This is a very new theory. There is no long, strong history.”
Prosecutor Spitzer aims to make Mejer’s case a stern warning to all parents. He said he would fully prosecute parents who “know, purchase, involve, modify, facilitate, assist, or encourage their children to ride e-motorcycles or illegal e-bikes that have been modified.” If convicted of all charges, Mejer could face a prison sentence of up to seven years and eight months.
E-Motorcycle Dangers and Urgent Regulation
The Ed Ashman tragedy underscores the growing dangers of high-powered e-motorcycles operated illegally by minors. In California, vehicles such as the Surron Ultra Bee, with electric motors of more than 750 watts or speeds of more than 32 km/h without pedaling, are classified as e-motorcycles. Riders must be at least 16 years old and have a motorbike license. However, many teenagers, like Mejer’s son, drive them without meeting these requirements, even performing dangerous stunts such as wheelies on public roads.
This case adds to the list of incidents that show the need for tighter regulations and more serious law enforcement. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office alone has indicted three parents this year on child endangerment charges for allowing their children to ride e-motorcycles illegally. Several new laws, such as AB 1942 and AB 1557, are under review in California to increase e-motorcycle regulation, with the new rules likely to take effect on January 1, 2027 if approved.
Ed Ashman’s death is a painful reminder of the consequences of negligence and disobedience to the law. This is not just about electric motorbikes, but about the responsibility of parents in ensuring the safety of their children and the wider community. A costly lesson that must be paid with the life of a veteran.***
