Mother of teen who allegedly killed veteran in e-motorcycle hit-and-run appears in court

An Orange County mother appeared in court on Tuesday in connection with a deadly e-motorcycle hit-and-run crash involving her son. Fifty-year-old Tommi Jo Mejer of Aliso Viejo is facing involuntary manslaughter charges after her 14-year-old son allegedly struck and killed a retired Vietnam veteran and then fled the scene. The boy's name has not been released. Prosecutors allege the boy was doing wheelies on an e-motorcycle in the street when he hit the 81-year-old man, identified as Ed Ashman, near Toledo Way and Ridge Route Drive in Lake Forest, near El Toro High School, on April 16. He died about a week later from his injuries. Ashman was a former U.S. Marine Corps captain who flew combat missions in Vietnam and a substitute teacher at El Toro High School. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer recently said he was going to start holding parents accountable for their children's actions on e-bikes and e-motorcycles. Authorities said Mejer had been previously warned about allowing her son to ride the e-motorcycle illegally and that she knew she could potentially face charges if he continued to do so. She allegedly admitted to sheriff's deputies during a conversation in June 2025 that she purchased the vehicle and knew her son rode it recklessly. However, officials also allege that after the crash, Mejer gave false information to deputies, claiming neither she nor her son owned or had access to such a vehicle. "If you know, buy, engage, modify, facilitate, aid and abet your child to ride an illegal e-motorcycle or e-bike that's been modified, we're going to prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law," Spitzer said. "I have to hold the parents accountable in order to have the ancillary impact of deterring children from riding these bikes and seriously injuring themselves or injuring innocent people." Mejer's attorneys put out a statement on her behalf, saying, "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." The e-motorcycle involved in the crash was identified as a Surron Ultra Bee, which is reportedly more powerful than a typical e-bike and classified as a motorcycle under California law. It can reach speeds of up to 58 mph and requires a valid motorcycle license, registration and insurance to be operated legally on public roads. Mejer's arraignment Tuesday was continued until late June. If convicted on all charges, she faces a maximum sentence of more than seven years in prison.