California Mother Charged with Manslaughter After Son’s E-Motorcycle Accident Involving Vietnam Veteran
Mother Faces Felony Charges After Fatal E-Motorcycle Collision Involving Minor
LOS ANGELES – Tommi Jo Mejer, a 51-year-old mother from Aliso Viejo, has been charged with felony involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment following the death of 81-year-old retired Marine Corps Captain Ed Ashman. The incident occurred when her 14-year-old son, riding an electric motorcycle, struck Ashman near El Toro High School on April 16, 2026. Ashman succumbed to his injuries two weeks later.
The case has significant implications for parental responsibility regarding minors and the operation of motorized vehicles. Prosecutors assert that Mejer allowed her son to use the high-powered Surron Ultra Bee motorcycle, which is classified as illegal for minors despite prior police interventions advising her against it. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer is pursuing a maximum prison sentence exceeding seven years.
“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," Spitzer stated. “If parents aren’t going to hold their children accountable, then I am going to hold parents accountable.”
Following the incident, Mejer was arrested on April 21, 2026. According to legal definitions, the motorcycle her son was riding is 16 times more powerful than a legal e-bike and can reach speeds of 58 mph. It requires proper licensing and registration, which the teenager did not possess.
While details regarding the minor’s court proceedings remain confidential per California law, it has not yet been determined whether Mejer’s defense will contest the claims surrounding her knowledge of the motorcycle’s classification before the accident. During a recent hearing, Mejer’s attorneys expressed their client’s deep sorrow over the tragedy, emphasizing the emotional toll on everyone involved.
Mejer’s arraignment was initially postponed, with a new date set for June 30, 2026, in Newport Beach. If found guilty of all charges, she faces a potential prison sentence of seven years and eight months.
This incident has reignited a broader discussion about the safety of electric motorcycles and the legal obligations of parents. Spitzer has described the increase in illegal high-speed electric motorcycles among minors as a “pandemic,” calling for stricter regulations and greater accountability for parents who provide these vehicles.
Recent accidents involving minors operating electric motorcycles have sparked further concern in Southern California. Notably, a 13-year-old boy in Garden Grove died in a similar incident, while two teenagers were arrested in Culver City for reckless riding on public streets.
As legal proceedings continue, the community remains focused on the pressing issues of safety, regulation, and parental responsibility amid a rise in incidents involving minors and high-powered vehicles.
