A California mother faces involuntary manslaughter charges after her 14-year-old son allegedly struck and killed an 81-year-old Vietnam War veteran while performing wheelies on an illegal e-motorcycle—despite multiple police warnings about the danger.

Warnings Ignored Before Fatal Collision

Tommi Jo Mejer, 50, of Lake Forest, was arrested after her teenage son allegedly hit Ed Ashman, a substitute teacher and former Marine Corps captain, on April 16. Ashman was walking home from work when the Surron e-motorcycle struck him. The rider fled the scene, and Ashman died from his injuries on Thursday. Prosecutors say Mejer had been warned nearly a year earlier about the risks of allowing her unlicensed son to operate the vehicle.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said the mother essentially handed her son a deadly weapon. In June 2025, Mejer contacted the Orange County Sheriff’s Department to complain about someone posting photos of her son riding the e-motorcycle. During that interaction, she admitted purchasing the Surron for her son and acknowledged he drove it recklessly. Deputies warned her she could face criminal charges if she continued allowing him to ride illegally. California law requires e-motorcycle riders to be at least 16 years old with a valid motorcycle license.

Cover-Up Allegations Add to Charges

Hours after the collision, Mejer allegedly lied to investigators, claiming neither she nor her son owned or had access to a Surron e-motorcycle. She was initially arrested on April 21 and charged with felony child endangerment and accessory after the fact. Following Ashman’s death, prosecutors upgraded the charges to include involuntary manslaughter. She also faces misdemeanor charges for contributing to the delinquency of a minor and providing false information to police, plus an infraction for permitting an unlicensed minor to drive a motor vehicle.

Accountability For Parental Responsibility

Mejer faces a maximum sentence of seven years and eight months in state prison if convicted on all counts. She is scheduled for arraignment on May 21. Spitzer emphasized that parents must be held accountable when they enable dangerous behavior that kills innocent people. Ashman, who survived combat missions in Vietnam as a Marine Corps captain, dedicated his later years to serving his community as an educator. State law prevents prosecutors from identifying the juvenile or discussing the ongoing investigation involving him.