Westlake Village role in Grossman tragedy questioned on the stand
The Acorn (Westlake Village)
May 28, 2026
It’s hard to read the latest from *The Acorn* without feeling that familiar knot in your stomach. This week’s testimony in the civil suit brought by the Iskander family revisits that awful September 2020 night on Triunfo Canyon Road, where Rebecca Grossman’s SUV struck and killed young brothers Mark and Jacob. But what caught my ear was the defense’s new argument: that the crosswalk itself—our crosswalk—shared some of the blame.
As a neighbor, it’s a tough pill to swallow. We all know that stretch of road near the Westlake Village Inn; it’s where we walk our dogs and push strollers. While nothing excuses the speed alleged in the criminal case, this testimony forces us to ask a quieter, harder question: Are our local streets as safe as we assume? The trial isn’t just about one driver’s choices—it’s a sobering reminder that we all share responsibility for the safety of our kids, whether behind the wheel or in the crosswalk.
This summary was written by AI based on the original article from The Acorn (Westlake Village).
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Westlake VillagePublished
May 28, 2026
AI-curated summary from local news sources
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Westlake VillageDuplicitous Erickson weighs in at trial
It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly six years since that terrible September evening on Triunfo Canyon Road, when two young brothers were struck and killed in a crosswalk. For those of us in Westlake Village, the pain has never fully faded. According to The Acorn (Westlake Village), former Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson finally broke his public silence this week in the civil trial tied to that crash—and his testimony left a lot of us shaking our heads. Under cross-examination, Erickson admitted he lied to police and investigators about the events leading up to the tragedy, including the allegation that he was racing with his then-girlfriend, Rebecca Grossman, moments before she hit the boys. This matters deeply to our community because it’s not just a celebrity scandal or a court case—it’s about accountability for a loss that shook our neighborhoods to the core. Many of us still drive through that crosswalk and think of Mark and Jacob, two kids whose lives ended far too soon. Erickson’s admission that he wasn’t truthful from the start feels like another layer of insult to a wound that’s still raw here. As this civil trial unfolds, it’s a sobering reminder that in a community as close-knit as ours, the truth—no matter how late it arrives—matters more than any courtroom drama.
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For those of us who remember that heartbreaking evening in 2020, this week’s testimony in the Iskander vs. Grossman civil case feels like another heavy chapter in a story that still haunts our community. According to The Acorn (Westlake Village), former MLB star Royce Clayton took the stand on May 1, sharing emotional testimony about what his longtime friend Scott Erickson allegedly told him about the crash that killed two young Westlake Village brothers. Clayton, despite a 30-year friendship, told police what he knew—a reminder that even bonds of loyalty can’t outweigh the weight of what happened on that quiet street. What sticks with me is the quiet courage it takes to speak up when it’s a friend. In a town where we all know each other’s faces at the coffee shop or the Little League field, this case has always felt personal. The boys’ names are etched into our collective memory, and every new detail reminds us that justice isn’t just a courtroom word—it’s a promise we make to our neighbors. As this civil case unfolds, it’s worth remembering that healing comes slowly, and often through the hard truths we share.
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