ALISO VIEJO, CA — An Orange County mother is facing multiple criminal charges after her teenage son struck and critically injured an 81-year-old Vietnam veteran while riding an illegal high-powered e-motorcycle in Lake Forest, prosecutors said.
The 14-year-old boy was doing wheelies in the street when he hit a man near Toledo Way and Ridge Route Drive on April 16, prosecutors said.
The victim, an educator and former U.S. Marine Corps captain Ed Ashman, remains hospitalized in critical condition.
RELATED: When E-Bikes Meet the Law: CA’s Fight Over Safety, Speed, And Accountability
The boy fled the scene after the crash, police said. The teen's mother, 50-year-old Tommi Jo Mejer of Aliso Viejo, was charged with felony child endangerment and felony accessory after the fact, along with several misdemeanor counts, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
If convicted on all charges, she faces up to six years and eight months in state prison.
According to prosecutors, Mejer had been previously warned about allowing her son to ride the e-motorcycle illegally. During a June 2025 interaction with sheriff's deputies, she admitted she purchased the vehicle and knew her son rode it recklessly, prosecutors said.
The e-motorcycle, a Surron Ultra Bee, was described by investigators as being far more powerful than a typical e-bike.
It is classified as a motorcycle under California law and can reach speeds of up to 58 miles per hour. A valid motorcycle license, registration, insurance and proper safety equipment are required to legally drive it on public roads.
Prosecutors said after the crash, Mejer gave false information to Orange County Sheriff's deputies and claimed neither she nor her son owned the vehicle.
Mejer was booked into custody on April 21 and later released the following day, jail records show.
A GoFundMe was launched to support Ashman, who is now facing a long and costly recovery from the crash.
"Our community was shaken this week by a tragic accident," the GoFundMe reads. "Ed is currently in critical condition and is fighting through a series of severe injuries."
"He is no stranger to bravery," the page continues, noting his service as a Vietnam War pilot. "After his time in the service, he brought that same dedication to the classroom."
To visit the Ashman family's GoFundMe, click here.
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