Ex-Dodger saw Rebecca Grossman fatally hit boys in crosswalk, former MLB star says on stand - BERITAJA

Former Major League Baseball subordinate Royce Clayton took the guidelines successful Rebecca Grossman’s wrongful decease civilian proceedings connected Friday, recalling really he learned the Grossman Burn Foundation co-founder had fatally struck 2 boys pinch her car successful a Westlake Village crosswalk.

With tears successful his eyes, Clayton testified that ex-Dodger pitcher Scott Erickson told him he saw Grossman tally complete the 2 brothers successful his rearview reflector arsenic she tailed him astatine a “high complaint of speed” successful her Mercedes.

“I don’t cognize if he utilized the connection racing, but they were walking astatine a precocious complaint of speed. She was straight down him, and he said arsenic he came up to this crosswalk, he saw the children,” Clayton said wrong the Van Nuys courtroom, wherever some Grossman and Erickson are connected civilian proceedings successful a wrongful decease suit revenge by the family of Jacob and Mark Iskander, 8 and 11.

On Sept. 29, 2020, Nancy Iskander was crossing the thoroughfare successful Westlake Village pinch her sons, 5, 8 and 11 years old, successful tow.

As they crossed, the boys’ mother was capable to propulsion her youngest boy retired of the way, but Jacob and Mark were deed and launched into the air.

According to grounds astatine her criminal trial, Grossman had been drinking pinch Erickson, her fellow astatine the time, and Clayton astatine a edifice earlier the crash. Grossman and Erickson were headed to her location to watch a statesmanlike statement that evening erstwhile the clang occurred.

She is now serving 15 years to life successful situation aft being convicted of second-degree murder.

On Friday, Clayton, a erstwhile shortstop pinch respective MLB teams, recalled receiving a melodramatic telephone from Erickson moments aft the collision.

He testified that Erickson told him that he and Grossman were “flying down the ... street” connected Triunfo Canyon Road erstwhile he swerved to debar 2 boys successful the crosswalk.

Under questioning from the Iskander family’s attorney, Brian Panish, Clayton acknowledged that Erickson said he saw Grossman deed the boys aft he swerved to debar them.

Recalling the conversation, the erstwhile shortstop choked up pinch emotion and buried his look successful his hands. Panish asked Clayton to callback really Erickson had described their driving, to which Clayton replied, “racing aliases driving fast. What does it matter?”

Rebecca Grossman, Van Nuys Courthouse (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times

(Irfan Khan/Los Angeles Times)

The Iskander family is suing Grossman and Erickson, arguing they are civilly liable for the boys’ deaths and were racing while drunk astatine the time.

On the stand, Clayton told jurors the 3 drank margaritas astatine Julio’s cantina earlier the brace went connected to thrust done the crosswalk. They each drove separately to Grossman’s lakeside home.

Clayton said Erickson, his friend for 30 years, called him aft the clang and told him he sewage to Grossman’s home, past ran backmost to the segment and recovered Grossman’s smashed car and her pinch the police.

“He wasn’t himself, arsenic I could only ideate going done what he witnessed,” Clayton said, adding that he suggested to Erickson he get an attorney.

Karim Iskander, right, and woman Nancy Iskander, center, (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)

Clayton said he later drove by the segment and saw Grossman’s smashed car and her sitting connected the curb. Clayton testified he ne'er saw Erickson there, but the erstwhile pitcher had told him he was watching the aftermath while sitting down a bush connected the broadside of the road.

Clayton told jurors he believes Erickson should beryllium held accountable.

“The correct point to do would person been to stop,” he added.

Under questioning, Clayton said he did not judge the brace were impaired erstwhile they near Julios.