LAKE FOREST, Calif. (KABC) — A Lake Forest woman faces felony charges following her son’s crash that critically injured an 81-year-old man on September 30, 2023.
Authorities said Tommi Jo Mejer, 50, is charged with child endangerment, accessory after the fact, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and other counts. She was arrested on October 3.
The crash occurred when her 14-year-old son, riding an illegal Surron e-motorcycle, struck Ed Ashman, a Vietnam War veteran and substitute teacher, while allegedly performing stunts outside El Toro High School. Ashman remains in critical condition at a local hospital.
District Attorney Todd Spitzer stated Mejer was previously warned by law enforcement about allowing her son to ride the e-motorcycle, which is classified as a motorcycle due to its speed capabilities. The vehicle can reportedly reach speeds of up to 60 mph.
Mejer’s alleged failure to supervise her son has raised public safety concerns. “Parents who buy their child an e-motorcycle and allow illegal use are handing their children a loaded weapon,” Spitzer said in a statement.
The investigation is ongoing, and the sheriff’s department continues to receive inquiries about the risks associated with e-motorcycles. A GoFundMe has been established to assist Ashman during his recovery.