Karim Iskander had to face the one thing no parent can prepare for. His testimony moved from happy memories of his sons to a haunting demand for total accountability from the people who took them away.
WHAT HAPPENED
In a courtroom filled with heavy silence, Karim Iskander described the night a high-speed race between Rebecca Grossman and Scott Erickson destroyed his family. He recalled the moment a first responder asked him to help resuscitate his son, Mark, right there on the road.
Karim told the jury he blew air into Mark’s mouth, only to watch in horror as blood poured out of the boy’s ears. Even when paramedics told him it was over, Karim refused to stop. He said he kept trying to bring his son back until he was forced to let go.
While Mark died at the scene, the nightmare for his other son, Jacob, was just as grim. Karim learned at the hospital that Jacob had suffered an "internal decapitation," meaning his spine and neck was no longer aligned straight.
"We left as a full family," Karim said through tears, "and we went back without Mark and Jacob."
Watch the full trial replay from NBC LA here.
WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS
- 2 boys, Mark and Jacob, were killed in the 2020 crash.
- 12 months from now is when Mark would have started his first year of college.
- 100% loss of brain activity was reported for Jacob before he passed.
- 15 days into the civil trial, the jury heard these graphic details.
- 2 defendants, Grossman and Erickson, are being sued for their roles in the tragedy.
THE BIGGER QUESTION
Why tell these horrific details in a public courtroom? For the Iskander family, this isn't just about reliving a nightmare, it is about making sure that everyone involved faces the full weight of what they did.
They want to ensure that no one gets to "wash their hands" of the blood on the pavement. By telling the world to hear exactly how his sons died, Karim is ensuring that those responsible cannot hide behind legal paperwork or pretend their choices didn't have permanent, brutal consequences.
The defense for Scott Erickson maintains that he did not strike the children and therefore should not be held responsible for the specific injuries Karim described. Rebecca Grossman's team may argue over the technical legal definitions of the damages being claimed.
However, after hearing a father describe "blood coming out of his son's ears," legal arguments about who hit whom feel very cold. The family argues that the race itself created the danger, and both drivers must learn that they cannot escape the reality of the lives they ended.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW
The trial will move forward with more medical experts and witnesses who will explain the physics of the crash. The jury must now carry the weight of Karim's testimony as they decide how to distribute the blame.
For the Iskanders, this is the final legal battle to ensure total accountability. They are seeking a verdict that forces the defendants, and the public to see the true cost of a "quick race" on a neighborhood street.
WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW
- Will the jury decide that Erickson is just as liable as the driver who hit the boys?
- How will the defendants' lawyers respond to the family's demand for full accountability?
- Will this trial lead to stricter laws for those who participate in street racing?
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Published: May 14, 2026. No major post-publication update has been logged.
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