Edhat Staff
Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch announced Friday that charges have been filed against 81-year-old David Ernest Baskett for his involvement in a fatal traffic collision.
Baskett is charged with one misdemeanor count of Vehicular Manslaughter for the death of Tiffany Ann Peterson at the intersection of Hangar and Skyway in Santa Maria on May 2, 2024.
Drugs and alcohol were not a factor in the crash, reports to the District Attorney’s Office.
Basket, a member of the Santa Maria Public Airport District board of directors and Santa Maria Joint Union High School trustee, was driving a Caterpillar telescoping forklift and preparing to enter Skyway Drive.
A small pickup truck, driven by Peterson’s father, was traveling southbound on Skyway Dr. at Hangar St. when a collision took place with the forklift. Peterson was killed in the collision and her father was injured.
During investigations, the Santa Maria Public Airport District emphasized that it does not appear any district equipment was involved in the tragic incident, and stated Baskett was not acting in any official capacity as a board member.
Following the crash, Baskett had said he would not immediately step down from his elected posts, he does not believe he caused the crash, and was in “full compliance with the rules,” reported the Santa Maria Times.
The community has shown support for the Peterson family through a GoFundMe campaign.
“The pain Tiffany’s family is feeling is beyond comprehension. To enable the family to concentrate on grieving and adjusting to life without their cherished daughter, we are asking for donations to help them in the coming days and months,” the fundraiser states.
Baskett will be arraigned on the complaint in Santa Maria Superior Court at 8:30 a.m. on September 4, 2024, in Department 9.
Officer Neil Medrano led the investigation from the Santa Maria Police Department and Senior Deputy District Attorney Madison Whitmore and Deputy District Attorney Ryan Clausen are leading the prosecution team.
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So charge a guy who was at a stop sign, because someone crashed into him? WTF? Super sad, but….
You should probably read up on this one, as that isn’t exactly what happened.
Where can I read about it? I haven’t been able to find a good description of the accident.
I haven’t seen a detailed analysis, but it looks kind of like he was stopped with his tires at the stop line, which would have left the forks projecting into the cross street. He also hadn’t marked the forks with anything to make them visible to traffic. Normally you’d move equipment like this with a flatbed, not by driving it on public roads.
Thank you, OrvGull!
I’ve read every article from several sources and there have been no details. I realized today that not having the prongs flagged was part of it. I also read he had a safety vehicle following him — not much good when the danger is in front.
more info:
https://www.noozhawk.com/criminal-charge-filed-against-airport-board-member-for-fatal-forklift-crash-in-santa-maria/
I’ll bet you’re the person who tuned me and edhat onto Weather West. Thanks for that.
https://calcoastnews.com/2024/08/elected-official-in-santa-maria-charged-with-manslaughter/
The edhat article has more information than the Calcoast one.
Lots of articles out there, but the Edhat one is missing this very important part – “David Baskett was driving a rented Caterpillar telescoping forklift on Hangar Street when he stopped at Skyway Drive with the prongs sticking onto the roadway.” The first post basically says that he was charged simply because he was stopped and someone crashed into him. That is not exactly what happened.
Thank you for clarifying. Interesting that neither the Police Department or the District Attorney failed to mention this fact. I wonder if Baskett is denying this was the case or if there is evidence of this.
Yes, he is denying it and is known to be “difficult” for lack of a better word… https://www.noozhawk.com/santa-maria-airport-district-board-asks-david-baskett-to-resign-after-fatal-forklift-crash/