An 81-year-old Vietnam War veteran who was hospitalized after he was stuck by a teen riding an E-motorcycle has died, the Orange County District Attorney said Friday.
Ed Ashman, who flew combat missions in the Vietnam War, died Thursday afternoon after being hit by the E-motorcycle as he was walking home from his job as a substitute teacher at El Toro High School. The April 16 collision in Lake Forest was at Toledo Way and Ridge Route Drive.
The United States Marine Corps captain’s death means charges that had already been filed against the teen’s mother, 50-year-old Tommi Jo Mejer of Aliso Viejo, were upgraded to include involuntary manslaughter. The elevated charge is in addition to felony child endangerment, felony accessory after the fact to a crime, a misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a misdemeanor count of providing false information to a peace officer, and an infraction for permitting an unlicensed minor under the age of 18 to drive a motor vehicle.
Ashman suffered critical injuries when he was hit by the rider of a Surron E-motorcycle, identified as Mejer’s 14-year-old son, authorities said, adding that the teen left the area. The teen was later arrested after a search warrant was served at his home near the site of the collision.
In June 2025, Mejer contacted the Orange County Sheriff’s Department about someone posting pictures of her son riding the E motorcycle. During the conversation captured on deputies’ body-worn cameras, the deputies warned her of potential criminal charges if he was allowed to ride the E motorcycle, prosecutors said.
Riders of Class 3 E-motorcycles must be 16 years of age and have a motorcycle license. They also require DMW registration, license plate, insurance and full motorcycle equipment. Without meeting those requirements, they can only be operated on private property or registered Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) areas.
Mejer was arrested by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department on April 21. She faces a maximum sentence of six years in state prison if convicted on all counts.
It was not immediately clear whether she has an attorney who could speak on her behalf.
“An American hero who survived flying combat missions in Vietnam could not survive walking across the street in Lake Forest because of a 14-year-old child who was allowed to ride an E-Motorcycle that he should have never been riding,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “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.
“This is a tragedy for the family of Ed Ashman and for everyone who loved a man who committed himself to his country and his community, and it is a tragedy for our society that we have gotten to a point where parents are refusing to hold their children – and themselves – accountable for endangering the lives of other people. If parents aren’t going to hold their children accountable, then I am going to hold parents accountable for hurting and killing innocent people while riding illegal motor vehicles.”
Since January, the OC DA’s office has filed child endangerment charges against three parents for allowing their children to illegally ride an E-motorcycle. The cases include a Yorba Linda man whose 12-year-old son was critically injured when he was hit by a vehicle after running a red light.
That E motorcycle had been modified to reach 60 mph.
About the Author
Discover more from USA NEWS
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
