Scott Erickson, former Major League Baseball pitcher, testified this week in a California courtroom regarding the 2020 crash that killed brothers Mark and Jacob Iskander, aged 11 and 8, in Westlake Village.
The Fatal Incident
On September 29, 2020, the boys were crossing Triunfo Canyon Road with their mother when Rebecca Grossman, driving her Mercedes, struck and killed them. Grossman was allegedly driving 73 mph in a 45-mph zone. Erickson testified he briefly accelerated in his SUV to pass the crosswalk safely before the crash.
Revelations During Testimony
Erickson admitted to:
- Guessing his own speed that night (estimated 50–55 mph)
- Lying to investigators about alcohol consumption
- Swapping license plates on his Mercedes for six years to avoid registration fees
- Deleting messages between him and Grossman after the crash
- Not coming forward until police contacted him a week later
He also recounted hearing Grossman’s ambiguous responses when he called her after the accident.
Civil Lawsuit and Messages
Steamy WhatsApp messages between Erickson and Grossman surfaced during the Iskanders’ wrongful death lawsuit, revealing ongoing communication between the two and efforts to coordinate stories after the crash. Grossman’s defense had previously claimed Erickson was driving at the time.
Legal Outcome
Grossman was convicted in 2024 of two felony counts of murder, two felony counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, and one felony count of hit-and-run resulting in death. She was sentenced to 15 years to life. In March, the California appeals court rejected her attempt to overturn the verdict, ensuring she remains in prison.
