Prosecutors allege that on April 16, 2026, Tommi Jo 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. The case is part of a broader debate over safety and parental responsibility across Southern California as a surge of illegal, high-powered electric bikes have resulted in multiple fatalities.
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. 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: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. 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. 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. 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: 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.
"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. 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.
Crime Death Motorcycles Parents High-Powered Electric Bikes California Law Legal Classification Attorney General Vehicle Speed Ride A Powerful E-Motorcycle Led To The Death
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