But said neither Grossman's white Mercedes Benz nor Scott Erickson's black SUV stopped. It is unfathomable to me how the State thinks it can prosecute someone while it is at the same time being sued for recklessness, and negligence for the very same incident.. Buzbee also said that his investigators have preliminary determined from at least two sources that Grossman was traveling at just under 52 miles per hour when she struck the boys, a significantly slower speed than what prosecutors have alleged. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? THE LIFE of Mark and Jacob Iskander was cut short in September 2020 after they were involved in a hit-and-run accident. Sadly, as is typical for a neglectful government, nine days after the accident in this case, the city finally acted when it allocated $250,000 to install flashing lights at this crossing, Grossmans attorney said. Rebecca Grossman, 57, who is a co-founder . We pray daily for the family, their loved ones, and the community. Grossman and her husband are the founders of the Grossman Burn Foundation, which seeks "to promote effective, sustainable partnership solutions for the comprehensive treatment, care, and support of burn survivors and their families in the United States and around the world," according to the organization's website. At a hearing last December, the judge also said that the victims' parents, have been enduring 'torture and heartbreak' while the case drags on. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Grossman, 57, was arrested on two counts of vehicular manslaughter, the sheriff's department said. Two petitions, claiming to have a combined total of more than 50,000 signatures, have been circulating, calling for Grossman to be locked up. The boys' mother, Nancy Iskander was also seen wearing one of the T-shirts as she thanked the protesters for their support. The boys, who were on roller skates and a skateboard at the time, were crossing a marked crosswalk with their parents, Nancy Iskander and Karim Iskander, nearby. document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ In September 2020, Rebecca Grossman ran over two boys Mark and Jacob Iskander with her Mercedes in West Lake, California. Over 18 months after a hit-and-run crash killed her 11-year-old son Mark and 8-year-old son Jacob, Iskander appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday to testify in the preliminary hearing for thecase. ADVERTISEMENT }); }) eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), The prosecutions insistence on overcharging my client, a pillar of this community, with murder is nothing more than a transparent effort to force her to plea that is impeding progress in this case.. The boys, who were on roller skates and a skateboard at the time, were crossing a marked crosswalk with their parents, Nancy Iskander and Karim Iskander, nearby. Grossman told officers, I was driving, and all of a sudden, my airbag went off, footage showed. Liked by Stephane Mesaros Nancy Iskander appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday to testify in the preliminary hearing for the case, nearly two years after the hit-and-run crash killed her sons Mark, 11, and Jacob, 8. Placards were left outside the courtroom in Van Nuys, California, during the hearing inside, 'These continual delays are awful for the family,' said Iskander neighbor Julie Cohen. According to People, 11-year-old Mark and 9-year-old Jacob Iskander from California were killed in front of their parents after a driver rammed into the boys. Investigators say alcohol and street racing may have played a part in the collision. (Photo courtesy of Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church) Authorities said the brothers were hit by a car in front of their parents and siblings as they crossed the street. The comments below have not been moderated. As they approached the intersection with Saddle Mountain Drive, Iskander and her son Mark had the idea of crossing the road for a view of Westlake Lake. Who is James Khuri? Jacob Iskander, 8, and Mark Iskander, 11, were crossing the street at the intersection of Triunfo Canyon Road and Saddle Mountain Drive around 7:10 p.m. Tuesday when the deadly collision occurred. Supporters of the Iskander family were also at the hearing, wearing buttons that read Justice for Mark and Jacob.. ga('ads.send', { She said she looked up to see two vehicles, one black and one white, zig-zagging between lanes as they approached the crosswalk heading northbound. The street has two lanes of traffic and bike lanes on each side, plus a dividing median, and they were only halfway across when she noticed a loud noise. On September 14, Samuels blasted Grossman for not showing up at her previous five scheduled court appearances, all of which were continued. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. An attorney for Grossman could not be immediately identified by PEOPLE and it is not clear if she has entered a plea at this time. The rate of vehicle traffic, as well as pedestrian traffic, combined with the high speed limit were of such a nature that the crosswalk should have not existed without traffic device enhancements to provide warning of pedestrians using the intersection.. Police officers claimed the driver of the vehicle was under the influence and now Rebecca Grossman is on trial over the accident. The mother and father were able to pull the other two children back in time, and the vehicle struck the two other children," said Capt. A Southern California community is mourning two brothers, ages 11 and 9, after they were struck and killed by a driver in suburban Los Angeles County, according to authorities. The rest of the six-member family escaped injury. Rebecca Grossman, the co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation, has been identified as the suspect in a crash that killed two young brothers in Westlake Village. (Source: NBC News) Sign up to receive news and updates about all of the good that your support makes possible! Mark and Jacob Iskander. CLOSE Mourners visit the memorial site for Mark Iskander, 11, and brother Jacob Iskander, 8, who were struck and killed Tuesday in Westlake Village. Love to Party for GoodGood for You + Community Too! All rights reserved. If convicted on all counts, she faces a maximum sentence of 34 years to life in prison. ", In a statement, the Grossman Burn Center says "Like our entire community, the Grossman Burn Center family at West Hills Hospital is terribly saddened by this tragedy. Rebecca Grossman, 57, was arrested on two counts of vehicular manslaughter. Grossman was arrested on two counts of vehicular manslaughter. According to FR24 News, the boys parents, Karim and Nancy Iskander, were walking with their four children at the time of the crash. After the deaths of the boys, the city allocated $250,000 to install flashing lights at the crossing, according to Buzbee and Law and Crime. pg.acq.push(function() { Inside LA millionaire's wealth as son, 17, is charged in Monique Munoz's death. One was declared dead at the scene while the other died in hospital. In loving memory, their family would like to start a children's orphanage in Egypt. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { The 57-year-old was charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter for running over the kids aged 11 and 9. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { Her husband and daughter had already gone ahead on Triunfo Canyon, but Nancy Iskander and her three sons stopped at the marked crosswalk. It is ironic that the Iskander family not only sued the City of Westlake, but also sued the State of California for their sons deaths the same entity that now is attempting to prosecute Mrs. Grossman, Buzbees statement said. Rebecca Grossman and attorneys arrive for a court hearing at Los Angeles Superior Court for driving DUI and killing two children as they were crossing the street in Westlake Village in Los Angeles County and leaving the scene of the accident, Rebecca Grossman leaves Los Angeles Superior Court after a hearing for DUI and killing two children as they were crossing the street in Westlake Village in Los Angeles County. pg.acq.push(function() { On Sept. 29, 2020, Grossman was allegedly street-racing with former MLB pitcher Scott Erickson when she struck the boys before fleeing the scene. Rebecca Grossman stands accused of street racing at speeds up to 81 mph just before she plowed through a residential crosswalk, killing Mark and Jacob Iskander. },false) "Thousands of lives have been impacted by this tragedy - two, innocent and loving, young boys with their entire life ahead of them were taken away by the complete and intentional disregard for human life, gross negligence, and selfish actions of Grossman," the petition says. She was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and DUI after her front-end-damaged car broke down a quarter mile from the crash site. ga('ads.send', { RELATED: 2 brothers killed in apparent street racing crash; suspect ID'ed as member of prominent Grossman family. 'Justice must be served, regardless of Grossman's financial means, status, privilege and connections,' declared one. Buzbee said that the city engineer had determined the crossing was on a blind curve, but told Law and Crime the city took no action. [I]t is now clear that one of the primary causes of the accident, in this case, was the dangerous aspects of the pedestrian crossing where it occurred, attorney Tony Buzbee said Tuesday in a statement emailed to Law&Crime. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! hitType: 'event', Speed and alcohol cited as contributing factors. Ministers in clash as farmers fear Britain will be flooded with cheap Mexican and Canadian meat Britain's Special Forces are banned from TikTok and other apps amid fears their accounts could be Mamma Mia! 'I heard the engines from two SUVs coming at us at insane speeds,' Iskander said. Published: 15:05 GMT, 26 April 2022 | Updated: 15:21 GMT, 26 April 2022. Mothers and homemakers were spotted wearing T-shirts with a picture of the young victims, Jacob, 9, and Mark Iskander, 11, as they protested outside the courtroom in Van Nuys on March 16. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. "Did anyone come back to the scene indicating they were the drivers of those cars?" The city was repeatedly asked to upgrade and make the crosswalk safer. There is a lot of hate and anger out there, Grossman told, Nancy Iskander said anyone who wants to support Mark and Jacobs legacy can do so through the charity founded in their memory with the Ventura County Community Foundation, the Ventura County Star reported. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Two brothers were killed when they were hit by a car, in Westlake Village, Calif., Sept. 29, 2020. Ventura County Star The Westlake Village City Council unanimously voted Thursday to add blinking crosswalk lights to an intersection where two young boys were killed in a traffic accident the week before. "It was the pandemic. According to her lawyer, previous reports about the incident have been inaccurate. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. It is a very tragic situation. "After allegedly striking the children, Grossman allegedly continued driving, eventually stopping about one-quarter mile away from the scene when her car engine cutoff," the DA said. People dropped off flowers and toys near the crosswalk close to the crash. Rebecca appeared on news after hitting Mark Iskander and Jacob Iskander who was born in 2009 and 2011 respectively. The Sheriff's Department believed Grossman, the co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation could have sped off after the collision with one of the brothers who was dragged 100 feet on the hood of the car before Grossman braked. Rebecca Grossman is charged with murder in the deaths of Jacob Iskander, 8, and Mark Iskander, 11, who were killed on Sept. 29, 2020, while crossing a street in their Westlake Village neighborhood. There is a lot of hate and anger out there, Grossman told Los Angeles Magazine in November. Buzbee noted that the Iskander family have sued the City of Westlake and the State of California, alleging that the crossing was a substantial factor in the deaths of their sons. hitType: 'event', Everything to Know About Alec Baldwin's 'Rust' Shooting Charges, and What Happens Next? Have a tip we should know? ', The other petition proclaimed, 'Let's push to spread awareness about this case and put Rebecca Grossman behind bars. Grossman has also been involved in other humanitarian causes, including the prevention of violence against women, human rights and the American Heart Association, from whom she won a 'Woman of the Year' award in 2007. We would love to brighten their holidays with cards from YOU! Update: The Iskander family has been overwhelmed by all the love and support they have received from everyone. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Interactive map reveals when you may see SNOW, PETER HITCHENS: Now we know for sure that our leaders lost their heads over Covid. "I heard the engines from two SUVs coming at us at insane speeds," Iskander said. Former Westlake Magazine publisher Rebecca Grossman was charged with murder and vehicular manslaughter after she reportedly slammed her Mercedes-Benz into Jacob Iskander, 9, and his 11-year-old . window.adsContainer = {"positionAfterTitle":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position2":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position3":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Below_Next_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position4":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position5":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle1_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position6":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle2_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position7":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle3_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position8":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle4_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position9":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position10":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle6_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position11":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle7_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position12":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle8_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position13":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle9_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position14":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle10_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position15":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle11_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position16":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle12_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"positionTop":{"code":"Article_Desktop_970x250_Header_Rel","isOrganicUserAd":false,"max_width":970,"max_height":250},"positionBottom":{"code":"Article_Desktop_Sidebar_Bottom_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":300,"max_height":600},"positionBottomRight":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280}} The Los Angeles socialite accused of mowing down two brothers at a crosswalk in 2020 has pleaded not guilty to the charges. "This is a devastating loss for our community," State Sen. Henry Stern posted on Facebook. Please know that along with Rebecca Grossman, we remain heartbroken and grieve deeply for the parents of Mark and Jacob Iskander. The Grossman Burn Foundation is the "philanthropic arm" of the Grossman Burn Centers, which were founded by Rebecca Grossman's father-in-law, according to the website. The crash occurred the evening of Sept. 29, 2020, along Triunfo Canyon Roadat the intersection with Saddle Mountain Drive in Westlake Village. Los Angeles socialite Rebecca Grossman is facing manslaughter charges after two young brothers are killed in a DUI hit and run last week. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Revealed: The top 10 fastest-growing destinations for UK pensioners retiring overseas. Iskander ended her testimony by saying the whole incident was a hit-and-run. Marks and Jacobs family and community will continue to grieve this horrific and tragic loss for a lifetime. The Mark and Jacob Iskander Foundation Fund is held with the Ventura County Community Foundation, a 501(c)3 public charity, Federal Tax ID number: 77-0165029. Grossman is expected back in court in August, according to NBC Los Angeles, with her trial slated to begin in September. The young boys were hit at about 7:10 p.m. at the intersection of Triunfo Canyon Road and Saddle Mountain Drive by 57-year-old Rebecca Grossman. She's accused of killing 11-year-old Mark Iskander and his. ga('ads.send', { Rebecca Grossman, co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation, arrives at Van Nuys Courthouse for her preliminary hearing. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Buzbee said the prosecution overcharged his client in an attempt to twist his clients arm into pleading out. The children were walking with their family when the allegedly drunk driver identified as 57-year-old Rebecca Grossman ran them over. 'It's time she was put behind bars, where she belongs', Protestors say Grossman is being given preferential treatment by the legal system due to her wealth and connections, 'Since the boys were killed a year and a half ago, Grossman has been free on bail, free to do whatever she wants, while the boys' parents are living a nightmare.'. Hearing Held For Socialite Accused Of Killing Two Boys, The murder trial of a Los Angeles socialite accused of hitting and killing two brothers in a crosswalk could start asearly as this spring, according to the, has pleaded not guilty to felony murder, vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run driving in the Sept. 29, 2020 deaths of Jacob Iskander, 8, and his brother Mark Iskander, 11, according to previous, Grossman allegedly reached speeds of up to 81 miles per hour in her Mercedes Benz before hitting the brothers as they walked with their parents and siblings in a crosswalk along Triunfo Canyon Road in Westlake Village northwest of Los Angeles, according to previous. "Two young boys with an entire lifetime ahead of them.". Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. Of his younger son, Karim added, "Jacob was the coolest boy ever. }); }); The brothers were identified by a local newspaper, The Acorn, as 11-year-old Mark Iskander and 9-year-old Jacob Iskander. After the first car passed, the second vehicle, a white Mercedes GLE 43, drove through the crosswalk. He stands tall, he speaks with confidence. Nancy Iskander was clusteredwith her three sons she and Jacob were on roller skates, Mark rode a skateboard andZachary, 5, took his scooter. She finally pulled over a mile and a half away. [I]f someone gets killed I hope the family knows that this has been reported repeatedly and sues the city for negligence, said another, according to Buzbee. The suspected driver, Rebecca Grossman, was located at or near the crash site, according to the sheriff's office. Pray for the Iskander family tonight and hold your loved ones close. The vigil program will have speakers which include Nancy Iskander, Ascension Lutheran Church and School, Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church, Ventura County . It was not immediately clear if she had an attorney. BBC's 1million star Zoe Ball, 52, lands big new payday for Abba show on ITV. Have a tip or story idea? The park carries special meaning for the Iskander family because it was the boys' neighborhood playground. Grossman is headed back to court on January 7 and Samuels said, "I want you and your new attorney here." Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! On the evening of September 29, Mark and Jacob Iskander of Westlake Village lost their lives at the hand of a suspected DUI driver while crossing a crosswalk south of Westlake lake. Grossman is the co-founder and head of the Grossman Burn Foundation and is a well-known socialite in Los Angeles. Prosecutors claim Grossman hit both boys and traveled more than 100 feet with one of them on the hood of her car before she applied the brakes and the child fell off. This is a serious case. Breaking crime and justice news on 'Crime Stories with Nancy Grace' Cohen, a neighbor of the Iskander family in Westlake Village, added, 'If Grossman didn't have money and connections, she would have been in custody all this time instead of free on bail. Mark was carried for more than 100 feet down the road on the hood of Rebecca Grossman's car. She then allegedly ran over that boy and continued to drive for another quarter mile before she, told police, her car engine cut off.. Grossman's preliminary hearing was delayed yet again on Wednesday after the court was informed that her attorney Richard Sutton had taken ill and was unable to go forward with the case. "Two young boys with an entire lifetime ahead of them. Jacob, age 8, never shied away from adventure and excitement! if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ media-tech companies with hubs around the world. They managed to pull two of their children to safety but Jacob and Mark Donations can also be made to The Mark and Jacob Iskander Foundation online, which has already built an orphanage in Egypt and supports local foster children and students. I learned from them more. The child development resource center offers these children access to fresh clothes, nutritional meals, and fun activities. Samuels will then decide if Grossman should be ordered to stand trial or not. "This is a devastating loss for our community," State Senator Henry Stern tweeted. A sign shows an image of Mark Iskander, 11, left, and his brother Jacob Iskander, 8, outside of Van Nuys Courthouse were a preliminary hearing was held for Rebecca Grossman who is charged with .