A Santa Maria Valley elected official pleaded guilty Tuesday to vehicular manslaughter in a case involving the forks of a heavy-duty forklift that protruded into traffic lanes, causing a crash that killed a woman in another vehicle two years ago.

David Baskett, 83, of Orcutt changed his plea to guilty in Santa Maria Superior Court before Judge Karen O’Neil.

He initially had pleaded not guilty to the single misdemeanor vehicular-manslaughter charge stemming from the crash that killed Tiffany Ann Peterson, 39, of Orcutt on the afternoon of May 2, 2024.

Baskett will avoid jail time, but spend a year on probation, which will be monitored by the court. 

O’Neil ordered him not to drive any heavy equipment, and to complete a traffic-safety course. 

He also must perform 100 hours of community service.

Peterson was a passenger in a small truck driven by her father on Skyway Drive when it struck the tines of the rented telehandler, or telescoping forklift, driven by Baskett, who was stopped on Hangar Street near the Santa Maria Public Airport.

The change in plea came after the judge declared a mistrial due to the law enforcement re-investigation that occurred on the eve of trial after the jury had been selected and amid evidence the forklift’s tines were sticking into the traffic lane.

Defense attorney Adrienne Harbottle filed a motion objecting to the late evidence, calling it “trial by ambush.”

A video recording from a Chumash Casino bus taken moments before the crash showed the forklift was protruding into the street significantly farther than Baskett initially told police, Deputy District Attorney Ryan Clausen wrote in his response to the defense motion.

The additional investigation at the crash site occurred after a defense expert claimed the Peterson truck was traveling 76 mph, Clausen said.

However, the bus driver told investigators his vehicle, which was going 52 mph, and the Peterson truck were traveling at similar speeds.

The speed limit for the road is 55 mph.

Video footage from the bus shows the telehandler’s rear tires at the limit line, instead of the front tires being behind the line, Clausen said.

The forklift’s 8-foot-long forks extended into the traffic lane, elevated approximately 4 feet off the ground — at roughly the height of an oncoming vehicle’s windshield, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Baskett left the forklift in that position.

Peterson, who was sitting in the passenger seat of the small truck, died instantly due to her injuries.

Before Baskett’s sentencing, the judge heard victim-impact statements from Peterson’s family, including her mom who said Baskett’s failure to take responsibility for his actions has made the grief more difficult.

“He has shown no remorse for taking my daughter’s life,” Pamela Peterson said in court.

She will never hear her daughter’s voice or see her playing with the cats she had adopted prior to the crash.

Pam Peterson has since lost her husband, Charles Peterson, when his cancer returned due to the devastating toll of losing his daughter. 

The grieving widow and mother urged the judge to show no leniency and to give the family justice.

Clausen also read statement from Tiffany’s cousin, Kayla Cardoza, and an uncle.

“What hurts the most is the injustice,” Clausen read from the cousin’s statement. 

The cousin recalled Tiffany Peterson as the kindest and most selfless person, who often could be found creating chalk art on the sidewalk with younger relatives at family gatherings. 

“All that was taken from us because of one reckless decision,” Clausen read from the cousin’s statement. 

“While no outcome can undo that harm, we are satisfied that Mr. Baskett has been held accountable for his actions,” District Attorney John Savrnoch said.

Since the sentence involved summary probation, the court will monitor compliance and ordered Baskett to return July 21. 

The plea deal also meant Baskett waived his right to appeal the conviction or sentence. 

“I wanted to get it over with it so I can go on and do better things,” Baskett said outside of court. 

He said he has “great sorrow” and “great, great sadness” for the family’s loss. 

However, he continued to deny wrongdoing after Tuesday’s hearing, but said he didn’t revisit the details.

“It’s over. The family’s still broken. I hate to see broken families,” Baskett added.

Despite the misdemeanor conviction, Baskett said doesn’t intend to resign from the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District board of trustees. His term ends in December.

His continued role on the board once his term expires is “up to the voters,” Baskett said, adding that he probably will run for another term. 

At the time of the fatal crash, Baskett also served on the Santa Maria Public Airport District board of directors, but lost his re-election bid in 2024.