A Los Angeles socialite charged with killing two young boys in a DUI hit and run last week, totaled another driver's car after speeding through a red light in a car crash several years ago, DailyMail.com can reveal.
Magazine publisher and co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation, Rebecca Grossman, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and DUI after smashing her speeding Mercedes into brothers Mark and Jacob Iskander, 11 and 9, in Westlake Village, California on Tuesday night last week, police said.
DailyMail.com has learned Grossman, 57, was also involved in an accident in 2012 during which the other driver claimed she ran a red light while driving 65mph in a 40mph zone and plowed into the back of his car.
The driver, Jeffrey Hammer, died from ill health in 2018, but an insurance report seen by DailyMail.com includes his detailed description of the crash.
Rebecca Grossman was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after smashing her speeding Mercedes into two brothers in Westlake Village, California on Tuesday night last week, police said
Mark Iskander, 11, (left) died at the scene while his nine-year-old brother, Jacob (right), died in hospital a few hours later
DailyMail.com has learned Grossman was also involved in an accident in 2012 during which the other driver claimed she ran a red light while driving 65mph in a 40mph zone and plowed into the back of his car. The driver, Jeffrey Hammer (pictured with his wife Maria), died from ill health in 2018, but an insurance report seen by DailyMail.com includes his description of the crash
'When I was making a left turn from south of Centinela to the street light at Culver Boulevard, I collided with a car which appeared to be driving in excess of 65mph,' Hammer wrote in the report.
'Then the police came and filled out an exchange of information card from both parties. An ambulance came and the woman stated that she wasn't injured so the ambulance departed.
'Police determined there was no injury to any parties and no hit and run, therefore the officer did not issue a police report.'
Hammer's wife, Maria, told DailyMail.com that Grossman's alleged hit and run killing last week brought back memories of the 2012 accident.
'He was 6ft, he was strong,' she said. 'He wasn't a complainer. But afterwards he was shaking.
'She was at a red light. She was going real fast, and I'm assuming she just thought ''it's going to be turning soon'' and went zooming.
'She was so fast he didn't even see her. He was already turning. She could have stopped but she didn't. She continued and hit him on the back of his car.
'Imagine, he could have been paralyzed. He could have been killed,' the furious widow added. 'She's a reckless driver.'
Maria said ultimately the insurers found both Hammer and Grossman were 50% at fault for the accident – but that the wealthy foundation founder later launched a personal injury lawsuit against the then 60-year-old man, despite telling police at the accident scene that she wasn't injured.
Hammer's wife, Maria, told DailyMail.com that Grossman's alleged hit and run killing last week brought back memories of the 2012 accident. 'Imagine, he could have been paralyzed. He could have been killed,' the furious widow added. 'She's a reckless driver'
Maria said ultimately the insurers found both Hammer and Grossman were 50% at fault for the accident – but that the wealthy foundation founder later launched a personal injury lawsuit against the then 60-year-old man, despite telling police at the accident scene that she wasn't injured
The widow said eventually their insurance paid out $100,000 in a settlement with Grossman, including compensation for her alleged injuries and about $15,000 of repairs to her Mercedes
'Jeffrey told me to not worry about it and let the attorneys deal with it,' she said.
'Afterwards she was saying, ''Oh my knees hurt, my neck hurts, my disc hurts.'' All of a sudden everything hurt for her,' Maria said.
'But she didn't go to the doctor or in the ambulance… She knew what she was doing.'
The widow said eventually their insurance paid out $100,000 in a settlement with Grossman, including compensation for her alleged injuries and about $15,000 of repairs to her Mercedes.
'Where I come from, it's who has money who always wins,' the 67-year-old Peruvian said from her home in Culver City.
'It's a matter of class. It's supposed to be fair, but I guess she had better attorneys. My husband wasn't hungry to get money from anybody.'
Grossman was bailed out this week on a $2 million bond. The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department said she was not cooperating with investigators.
Schoolboy Mark, 11, died at the scene while his nine-year-old brother, Jacob, died in hospital a few hours later.
The young boys were 'walking with their family' at the time of the tragedy, according to Capt Salvador Becerra of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
'It is a very tragic situation. The mother and father were able to pull the other two children back in time, and the vehicle struck the two other children,' Becerra said.
Police said one boy was carried 100ft on the hood of the car before Grossman braked, at which point he fell off the car and she ran him over again while fleeing the scene, then allegedly pulled over a mile and a half away.
The children's parents Karim and Nancy Iskander (pictured) heard the speeding Mercedes and reached out to protect their children, but they were only able to protect two
Grossman is part of the prominent Grossman family and along with her husband Peter, founded the Grossman Burn Foundation
Police said one boy was carried 100ft on the hood of the car before Grossman braked, at which point he fell off the car and she ran him over again while fleeing the scene, then allegedly pulled over a mile and a half away. Pictured: Memorial at the scene of the hit-and-run accident
The young boys were 'walking with their family' at the time of the tragedy, according to Capt Salvador Becerra of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. This image shared by Malibu Lost Hill's Sheriffs shows the socialite's Mercedes with a smashed-up hood
Investigators said street racing may have been involved in the crash, which took place at 7.10pm last Tuesday at the intersection of Triunfo Canyon Road and Saddle Mountain Drive.
Six family members were crossing the three-way intersection on a marked crosswalk on the road with no stoplight.
The children's parents, Karim and Nancy Iskander, heard the speeding Mercedes and reached out to protect their children.
They were only able to grab their other two children, Zackary and Violet. Mark and Jacob were too far away and were hit by the car, police said.
Mark and Jacob were both members of the Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church where they served as deacons.
'Our beloved angels/deacons Mark & Jacob Iskander departed to our heavenly father our Lord Jesus Christ after being hit by a car last night,' the church wrote.
Grossman is part of the prominent Grossman family and along with her husband Peter, founded the Grossman Burn Foundation.
She is also the former publisher of Westlake Magazine.
No comments:
Post a Comment