California Mom Faces Involuntary Manslaughter Charges After Fatal E-Motorcycle Collision Claims Elderly Man’s Life

In Lake Forest, California, a mother is now facing an involuntary manslaughter charge following the tragic death of an elderly man. This incident involved an electric motorcycle ridden by her teenage son, which struck the victim.

The victim, Ed Ashman, was an 81-year-old Vietnam War veteran cherished by the community for his role as a substitute teacher. He succumbed to his injuries two weeks after the collision, which occurred as he was making his way home from El Toro High School, where he worked.

Authorities have identified the mother as 50-year-old Tommi Jo Mejer. Prosecutors assert that she had previously been cautioned about the dangers of allowing her 14-year-old son to ride the e-motorcycle illegally.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer expressed his sentiments, saying, “An American hero who survived combat missions in Vietnam was tragically unable to survive crossing a street in Lake Forest. This occurred because a 14-year-old, permitted by his mother to ride an e-motorcycle, was doing so illegally and recklessly, despite being warned multiple times. This negligence ultimately led to the loss of a life.”

The unfortunate event took place on April 16. According to investigators, Mejer’s son was riding a Surron e-motorcycle and performing stunts, such as “doing wheelies,” near El Toro High School at the time he collided with Ashman.

Mejer was previously charged with one felony count of child endangerment, one felony count of accessory after the fact to a crime, one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, one misdemeanor count of loaning a motor vehicle to an unlicensed driver and one misdemeanor count of providing false information to a peace officer.

The law says e-bikes manufactured to stay under 20 mph have no age or licensing restrictions, but those that have been modified or can reach higher speeds are considered e-motorcycles and require a motorcycle license, insurance and registration.

Investigators say Mejer was warned by sheriff’s deputies about letting her son illegally ride the e-motorcycle in June of last year. The sheriff’s department said deputies spent nearly 30 minutes explaining to her that her son could not legally ride the e-motorcycle, and that she would face criminal charges if she continued to let him.

“We have her on body-worn camera talking about and understanding the dangers and the illegality of this particular vehicle,” Spitzer said.

Mejer marks the third parent in Orange County this year alone charged with illegally allowing their child to ride an e-motorcycle.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help support Ashman’s family.