Wrongful death civil trial opens in 2020 Westlake Village crosswalk deaths

Opening statements began Thursday in a civil wrongful death trial against socialite Rebecca Grossman and former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson, who prosecutors allege were street racing above 80 mph when they struck and killed two boys in a Westlake Village crosswalk in 2020.

Mark Iskander, 11, and Jacob Iskander, 8, were crossing the street with their mother when they were struck. Grossman was convicted two years ago on two counts of second-degree murder and is serving a 15-year prison term; the civil suit seeks additional financial damages from both defendants.

The prosecution presented a collision animation Thursday showing both vehicles traveling at more than 80 mph in a posted 45-mph zone, with the impact occurring at approximately 73 mph, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

Eyewitnesses described the moments before the crash. "It was insanely fast," one witness said. A second witness testified, "They were like a bat out of hell, clearly racing."

Brian Panish, the Iskander family's attorney, told jurors that Erickson's lane position made escape impossible for the brothers. "Because Mr. Erickson is racing, and he's in the first lane, he blocks off the boys' ability to escape and they're both hit at 73 miles an hour," Panish said, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

Prosecutors further allege that both drivers had been drinking for several hours before the crash. Erickson allegedly fled the scene, hid in bushes for three hours and switched the license plates on his Mercedes, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. His attorney disputes that he fled, that he knew children had been struck or that he was traveling at excessive speed.

Grossman, co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation, was absent from court and is not expected to testify. Her attorney argues that Westlake Village bears partial responsibility for failing to address a dangerous intersection. Erickson is expected to take the stand during the trial.

Erickson faces only a misdemeanor reckless driving charge in the criminal case. The civil trial is the Iskander family's primary avenue for seeking financial accountability from both defendants.