Ex-MLB Star Denies Racing Woman Who Killed 2 Boys

Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson has denied that he was racing a woman who fatally struck two young brothers at a crosswalk in California. Erickson did admit to erasing messages with Rebecca Grossman as he testified Monday in a civil trial over the 2020 deaths of Mark and Jacob Iskander, ages 11 and 8, in Westlake Village, per KNBC. Their mother, Nancy Iskander, is asking a jury to find Erickson and Grossman liable for wrongful death and award damages. Grossman, co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation, was already convicted of murder in a separate criminal case and is serving 15 years to life.

Lawyers for the Iskander family say Erickson and Grossman, then dating, were racing when Grossman's SUV hit the boys as they were in a marked crosswalk with their family. Erickson said he was driving at up to 55mph in a 45mph zone and that, on seeing the children, he sped up instead of braking and dodged them. He maintained he was not racing, did not drive recklessly, and insisted he did not realize the deleted WhatsApp messages might be important evidence. He also testified he knew the boys had died but did not contact police until they reached out more than a week later. He admitted he then turned over a different vehicle than the one he was driving that day, per the Los Angeles Times.

Law enforcement witnesses have testified that Erickson may have been driving even faster than Grossman, who reached speeds between 70mph and 80mph leading up to the collision. Last week, former MLB player Royce Clayton testified that he'd had drinks with Erickson and Grossman before the incident and that Erickson later told him he saw Grossman run over the boys in his rearview mirror. Erickson admitted lying to police about how much he'd drank that day but maintained he wasn't impaired, per the Valley Current. A misdemeanor reckless-driving charge previously filed against Erickson was dropped after he filmed a public service announcement. Monday marked Day 11 of the civil proceedings, which are expected to run six to eight weeks, with Erickson due back on the stand Tuesday.