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A Southern California woman is facing an involuntary manslaughter charge after her 14-year-old son's e-motorcycle struck and killed an 81-year-old man, prosecutors said Friday. The case has also prompted Amazon to stop selling certain high-speed electric bicycles in California, according to reports.
Coverage Comparison
Two reports from The Guardian cover the story from different angles. One focuses on the broader regulatory response, highlighting Amazon's decision to remove non-compliant e-bikes from its marketplace. The other centers on the criminal charges against the mother, Tommi Jo Mejer, detailing the allegations and the potential penalties.
Both reports draw on official statements from the Orange County District Attorney's office and the California Attorney General. They agree on the core facts: on April 16, Mejer's 14-year-old son was riding a Surron e-motorcycle, performing wheelies, when he struck Ed Ashman, a former Marine Corps captain and substitute teacher, who was walking home in Lake Forest. Ashman died from his injuries on Thursday.
Key Claims
- According to prosecutors, Mejer had been warned by deputies in June 2025 that she could face criminal charges for allowing her son to ride the e-motorcycle illegally. During a recorded interaction, she acknowledged buying the vehicle and knowing "that he drove it recklessly."
- The Orange County District Attorney, Todd Spitzer, said in a statement: "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."
- The e-motorcycle's top speed is reported to be 56 mph (90 km/h).
- Mejer faces additional charges including felony accessory after the fact, misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and providing false information to an officer. If convicted on all counts, she could face up to seven years and eight months in prison.
- In response to the incident and a consumer alert from the state attorney general, Amazon announced it would remove listings for e-bikes and e-motorcycles that do not comply with California regulations. The company will require third-party sellers to follow state laws and its own policy.
- The California Attorney General's consumer alert, issued last month, clarifies that two-wheeled vehicles exceeding 28 mph with pedal assistance or 20 mph with throttle assistance are classified as mopeds or motorcycles, which require special licensing and have age limits.
Perspectives
From the perspective of law enforcement and prosecutors, the case underscores the dangers of allowing minors to operate high-speed electric vehicles without proper licensing or supervision. District Attorney Spitzer emphasized the foreseeability of the tragedy, citing the mother's prior warnings.
Amazon's move reflects a marketplace response to regulatory pressure and public safety concerns. The company's decision to restrict sales in California aligns with state law, though its enforcement will rely on third-party seller compliance.
Some may see the mother's prosecution as an appropriate accountability measure, while others might argue it raises questions about parental liability and the effectiveness of e-bike regulations. The case also highlights a broader trend: according to one report, more than 100 deaths across the United States have resulted from e-bike and e-motorcycle crashes, with injuries in Southern California rising 430% in the last four years.
As of this writing, Mejer has not appeared in court, and no public defender has been listed in records. The district attorney's office provided the name of a private attorney who may be representing her, but that person did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The incident has also drawn attention to the marketing of high-speed vehicles as e-bikes, with Attorney General Rob Bonta stating, "Sometimes, what looks like an ebike or is marketed as an ebike is not a bike at all. We are seeing a surge of safety incidents on our sidewalks, parks and streets."