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PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Veteran dies after e-motorcycle hit-and-run crash
Ed Ashman, an 81-year-old retired Marine Corps captain and substitute teacher, has passed away following a hit-and-run collision involving a 14-year-old on an electric motorcycle.
LOS ANGELES - An Orange County mother is facing felony charges after prosecutors say her decision to let her underage son ride a powerful e-motorcycle led to the death of a decorated Vietnam veteran.
The case marks a sharp escalation in local efforts to hold parents criminally responsible for the illegal use of motorized cycles by minors.
What we know:
Aliso Viejo resident Tommi Jo Mejer, 51, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, child endangerment, and being an accessory after the fact.
Prosecutors allege that on April 16, 2026, Mejer’s 14-year-old son was performing wheelies on a Surron Ultra Bee e-motorcycle when he struck 81-year-old Ed Ashman near El Toro High School in Lake Forest.
Ashman, a Marine Corps veteran who flew combat missions in Vietnam, died two weeks later.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- OC mother charged with felony after son's e-motorcycle crash critically injures veteran
- OC veteran, 81, dies weeks after being struck by teen on e-motorcycle
- Teen arrested after OC electric motorcycle hit-and-run leaves teacher, 81, critical
Authorities state the e-motorcycle involved is 16 times more powerful than a legal e-bike, capable of reaching 58 mph, and requires a license and registration that the teen did not have.
Tommi Jo Mejer / FOX 11
What we don't know:
Details regarding the teen's court proceedings remain confidential due to California state law.
It has not been disclosed whether the defense will contest the claims that Mejer was properly informed of the specific classification of the 2025 Surron Ultra Bee prior to the accident.
Timeline:
- June 2025: Mejer contacts deputies regarding photos of her son riding; deputies warn her of potential criminal charges if he continues to ride the e-motorcycle.
- April 16, 2026: Ed Ashman is struck by the teen on the e-motorcycle.
- April 21, 2026: Mejer is arrested by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
- April 30, 2026: Ed Ashman dies from his injuries at the hospital.
- May 12, 2026: Arraignment is postponed; new court date is set.
- June 30, 2026: Mejer's rescheduled arraignment in Newport Beach.
Big picture view:
A string of recent tragedies involving minors and high-powered electric vehicles has ignited a fierce debate over safety and parental responsibility across Southern California.
Recent Incidents Across the Region
- Garden Grove: A 13-year-old boy died after losing control of an electric motorcycle and striking a center median.
- Culver City: Authorities recently arrested two teenagers for the reckless operation of electric motorcycles on public streets.
- Simi Valley: A 13-year-old e-bike rider was tragically killed after being struck by a train.
- Lake Forest: 81-year-old Vietnam veteran Ed Ashman recently passed away following a hit-and-run involving a 14-year-old riding an illegal electric motorcycle.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer has labeled the surge of illegal, high-speed electric bikes a "pandemic."
The trend has sparked urgent calls for stricter enforcement of vehicle classifications—distinguishing between low-speed assisted bicycles and high-powered motorcycles—and a push for increased legal accountability for the parents who purchase these vehicles for their children.
RELATED COVERAGE:
- 13-year-old killed after losing control of electric motorcycle in Garden Grove
- ‘Too Fast, Too Furious’: Amazon halts e-bike sales in California amid fatal crashes
- 2 teens arrested at Culver City High School after reckless use of electric motorcycles
In response to these fatal incidents, Amazon recently announced it will no longer allow third-party sellers to list high-speed e-bikes in California that fail to meet state legal requirements for speed and power.
According to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, any bike exceeding 28 mph with pedal assistance, or 20 mph with throttle assistance, is legally classified as a moped or motorcycle. These vehicles require DMV registration, insurance, and a motorcycle license to operate legally.
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SUGGESTED VIDEO: Amazon halts e-bike sales in California amid fatal crashes
The move comes after several deaths and a push from OC DA Todd Spitzer who said he is going after parents for the illegal behavior of their kids.
What they're saying:
"Tommi Mejer is anguished over the terrible accident. She sends her deepest condolences and sorrow over this tragedy. This has been devastating for everyone. It is premature to make any other statement," Mejer's attorneys Paul Meyer and Lolita Kirk said in a statement.
"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... If parents aren’t going to hold their children accountable, then I am going to hold parents accountable," Spitzer said.
What's next:
Mejer is scheduled for her next court appearance on June 30 in Newport Beach.
If convicted on all counts, she faces a maximum of seven years and eight months in state prison.
The Source: This report is based on official criminal complaints and public statements released by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the Orange County Sheriff's Department, and previous FOX 11 reports.