Socialite magazine publisher 'kills two boys in speeding Mercedes'

A former magazine publisher has been arrested for allegedly killing two young brothers in a hit-and-run crash while under the influence of alcohol in California. 

Rebecca Grossman, 57,  who is a co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and DUI after smashing her speeding Mercedes into brothers, Mark and Jacob Iskander, in Westlake Village, police said. 

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. 

Rebecca Grossman (pictured with her husband Peter), 57, who is a co-founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and DUI after smashing her speeding Mercedes into brothers, Mark and Jacob Iskander, in Westlake Village, police said

Mark (left), 11, died at the scene while his nine-year-old brother, Jacob (right), 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. This image shared by Malibu Lost Hill's Sheriffs shows the socialite's Mercedes with a smashed-up hood

Investigators said one boy was carried 100ft on the hood of the car before she braked, at which point he fell off the car and she ran him over again while fleeing the scene. 

Investigators said street racing may have been involved and claim Grossman is not cooperating with detectives. 

Police said the crash took place at 7.10pm 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 & Violet. Mark and Jacob were too far away and were hit by the car, police said.

One of the boys was carried for more than 100ft down the road on the hood of her car before she hit the brakes, according to KABC. 

The boy then rolled on to the street and Grossman ran him over while leaving the scene before pulling over a mile and a half away, detectives said. 

Grossman is part of the prominent Grossman family and along with her husband Peter, founded the Grossman Burn Foundation

Grossman was booked on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and DUI and her bail was set at $2million

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. 

Members of the church said the family is asking for prayers and privacy at this time. 

Mourners were seen on Wednesday dropping off flowers and toys near the crosswalk close to the crash site. 

Sen Henry Stern wrote in a Facebook post: 'This is a devastating loss for our community. Two young boys with an entire lifetime ahead of them. Pray for the Iskander family tonight and hold your loved ones close.'

Grossman is part of the prominent Grossman family and along with her husband Peter, founded the Grossman Burn Foundation.

Mourners were seen on Wednesday dropping off flowers and toys near the crosswalk close to the crash site

Residents of the community were seen at the memorial for the children on Wednesday 

She is also the former publisher of Westlake Magazine.

Grossman was booked on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and DUI and her bail was set at $2million.

Officials are also investigating whether she left the scene of the horrific crash. Authorities said they do have surveillance footage of the incident, but won't be releasing it at this time. 

A photo shared by police shows the front end of the silver Mercedes with a massive dent.

Grossman's father-in-law, A. Richard Grossman, was the founder of the burn center in West Hills. 

He began treating burn patients in 1969 and it is now one of the largest burn centers in the world. 

Anyone with information on Tuesday's incident was urged to call the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff's Station at 818-878-1808.