Prosecutors announced that Tommi Jo Mejer, 50, from Aliso Viejo, has been charged with manslaughter following the death of Ed Ashman, 81.

Ashman died approximately one week after being struck while walking home from El Toro High School in Lake Forest, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office in California.

Authorities allege Mejer's 14-year-old son was performing wheelies on a high-powered electric motorcycle when he hit Ashman on 16/4 before fleeing the scene, Fox 2 reported.

In an amended complaint filed on 1/5, Mejer is now charged with manslaughter, along with child endangerment and accessory, among other offenses.

If convicted of all charges, the mother could face a prison sentence of up to 7 years and 8 months. She is scheduled to appear in court on 21/5 at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.

Investigators stated that police had previously warned Mejer about allowing her son to ride an electric motorcycle illegally. In a 2025 exchange recorded by a body camera, she reportedly admitted to purchasing the vehicle and knowing her son drove recklessly.

The electric motorcycle involved, identified as a Surron Ultra Bee, can reach speeds of up to 93 km/h and is classified as a motorcycle under California law, requiring a license, registration, and insurance to operate on public roads.

Prosecutors allege that after the accident, Mejer provided false information to officers, claiming that neither she nor her son had the right to use such a vehicle.

The upgraded charges reflect the severity of the case. Officials also issued a warning to parents: "This mother essentially handed her 14-year-old son a deadly weapon".

Prosecutors indicated that this is one of several recent cases where parents have been charged for allowing minors to operate electric motorcycles illegally.

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