Mom Remembers Her Sons’ Tragic Last Moments
In a deeply emotional civil trial, Nancy Iskander recounted the tragic day her two young sons lost their lives in a crosswalk accident in Westlake Village. Gripped by sorrow, she shared the haunting details of that fateful day as she testified against the drivers involved in the incident.
On September 29, 2020, Nancy was crossing the street with her three sons when chaos erupted. She vividly described how, in an instant, she had to grab her youngest son, Zachary, and dive to safety as a black Mercedes SUV rushed toward them. In the turmoil, her two older boys, Mark and Jacob, were struck by a second vehicle—a white speeding Mercedes driven by Rebecca Grossman.
Struggling with Unspeakable Grief
“I was crossing the road, not a racetrack,” Nancy stated, describing the horror of losing her children. This civil case is a wrongful death trial seeking $100 million in damages from Grossman, her co-defendant Scott Erickson, and their insurance companies. Grossman had previously been convicted of murder for her reckless driving, which experts noted exceeded speeds of 80 mph.
Nancy recounted the terrifying moment as both SUVs sped down Triunfo Canyon Road. She later turned to find her sons missing after the white Mercedes zipped past them. “The white car passed exactly where Mark and Jacob were, and then I looked back and didn’t find them, and I started screaming,” she recalled, overwhelmed by the disbelief and pain.
When Nancy finally located her sons, the sight was devastating. Mark lay injured on the road, blood spilling from his mouth, while Jacob appeared to be in peaceful repose. “I just knew, I don’t know how, as a mother,” she shared, her voice breaking as she remembered the horror. Despite her training as a pharmacist, seeing her sons in such a state was beyond comprehension.
As paramedics worked on the scene, hopes dwindled for Jacob, who was critically injured. Nancy shared the sorrowful moment she was told he might be paralyzed if he survived. In that tragic moment, she had to say goodbye, expressing her pride and love for him one last time.
During the trial, Nancy expressed her shock upon seeing Grossman in the hospital emergency room, handcuffed. “She looked me in the eye, and I was just shocked at her age,” she stated, reflecting on the belief that such reckless driving would typically be associated with youth rather than someone of Grossman’s background.
Witness testimonies revealed that both Grossman and Erickson had consumed alcohol prior to the incident. While Erickson suggested he was driving at a much lower speed, the prosecution presented evidence that indicated both vehicles were racing on that fateful day.
Finally, as she sat on the witness stand, Nancy shared the depths of her sorrow, stating, “I relive that day every day. I am a broken mother for sure. Part of me died with them.” Despite their past home in Westlake Village, she and her husband now live in Massachusetts, holding onto their memories of their sons. “No parent wants to forget their child,” she said passionately. This past Mother’s Day was particularly painful for her. Her daughter, unaware of the depth of their loss, presented her with a card mentioning Mark and Jacob, a poignant reminder of love and loss that struck Nancy deeply.
