LATEST FLORES – A heartbreaking tragedy in Lake Forest, California, has now brought a mother to court on charges of involuntary manslaughter. Tommi Jo Mejer, 50, of Aliso Viejo, Orange County, is accused of being responsible for the death of Ed Ashman, an 81-year-old Vietnam veteran who died after being hit by his 14-year-old son on an illegal electric motorbike (e-motorcycle). This case highlights the seriousness of parental negligence and the dangers of high-powered electric vehicles in the hands of minors.
The story begins on April 16, 2026, a supposedly calm afternoon. Ed Ashman, a retired US Marine captain who bravely flew combat missions in Vietnam, was walking home from his job as a substitute teacher at El Toro High School. He was a respected figure in his community, someone who dedicated his golden years to mentoring the younger generation. However, Ashman’s journey home turns into a disaster. At the intersection of Toledo Way and Ridge Route Drive, he was hit by a 14-year-old teenager who was doing a “wheelie” or lifting the front wheel of his electric motorbike in the middle of the road. The collision was fatal. Ashman suffered critical injuries and, two weeks later, on 1 May 2026, he breathed his last.
E-Motors and Age Limits
The e-motorcycle used in this incident was a 2025 Surron Ultra Bee model, a vehicle capable of reaching speeds of up to 56-58 miles per hour (approximately 90 km/h). This type of vehicle, with a motor power of more than 750 watts or a speed of more than 20 mph without pedals, is classified as an electric motorcycle under California law. This means that to operate it, the rider must be at least 16 years old and have a motorbike driver’s license. Mejer’s son, only 14 years old, clearly did not meet these requirements.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer asserted that such e-motorcycles, in the hands of minors, are “loaded weapons.” “An American hero who survived a combat mission in Vietnam could not survive walking across a road in Lake Forest because a 14-year-old was allowed to ride an e-motorcycle he should never have ridden,” Spitzer said with concern. This is a striking statement, illustrating how ironic Ashman’s fate is.
Ignored Repeated Warnings
What is even more surprising is that Tommi Jo Mejer has received repeated warnings from the authorities about her son riding an e-motorcycle illegally. In June 2025, nearly a year before the fatal crash, Mejer contacted the Orange County Sheriff’s Department to complain that someone had posted a photo of his then-13-year-old son riding an e-motorcycle. In a 28-minute interaction captured on body camera, Mejer admitted that he purchased the Surron e-motorcycle for his son and knew that his son was riding it recklessly.
Deputies had warned Mejer that he could face criminal charges if he continued to allow his son to ride an e-motorcycle that he could not legally ride. However, the warning appears to have been ignored. After the accident, Mejer allegedly even tried to mislead investigators by claiming that neither he nor his son had access to the e-motorcycle.
Manslaughter Charges and Legal Implications
Initially, Mejer was arrested on April 21, 2026, and charged with felony child endangerment and accessory after the fact. However, after Ed Ashman’s death, the charges against him were significantly increased to involuntary manslaughter. He also faces misdemeanor charges of participating in the delinquency of a minor and providing false information to a law enforcement officer, as well as misdemeanor charges of allowing his unlicensed child to drive a motor vehicle.
Prosecutor Spitzer firmly stated that he would prosecute parents who let their children ride e-motorcycles illegally. “If parents won’t hold their children accountable, then I will hold parents accountable for hurting and killing innocent people while driving illegal motor vehicles,” he said. Mejer himself is scheduled for trial on May 21, and if convicted on all charges, he could face a maximum sentence of seven years and eight months in state prison.
This case is a bitter reminder of the importance of compliance with motor vehicle laws and, more importantly, parental supervision. The loss of Ed Ashman is a loss for his family and community, who now mourn a man remembered for his dedication and service. This is a tragedy that should never have happened, a costly lesson in the consequences of repeated negligence.***
