A California mother faces an involuntary manslaughter charge after her 14-year-old son struck and killed an 81-year-old man while riding an e-motorcycle illegally, prosecutors said on Friday.
Tommi Jo Mejer, 38, of Aliso Viejo, was already charged with felony child endangerment. The new charge follows the death of Ed Ashman, a former US Marine Corps captain and substitute teacher, who was hit on 16 April while walking home in Lake Forest. The boy was doing wheelies on a Surron e-motorcycle, according to prosecutors.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said: “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 an e-motorcycle until he finally killed someone.”
Mejer also faces charges of felony accessory after the fact, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and providing false information to an officer. If convicted on all counts, she could be sentenced to up to seven years and eight months in prison.
Prosecutors said that in June 2025, Mejer called the sheriff's department to complain about photos of her son riding the e-motorcycle. During a body-camera-recorded interaction, she admitted buying the vehicle and knowing he rode it recklessly. Deputies warned her she could face criminal charges.
Under California law, an e-motorcycle requires riders to be at least 16 and hold a motorcycle licence. The boy's Surron Ultra Bee can reach 56mph. After the crash, Mejer told deputies neither she nor her son owned or had access to such a vehicle.
