A Santa Maria Public Airport District board member has been charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter in connection with a fatal crash while he was driving a heavy-duty forklift. 

The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint in Superior Court accusing David Ernest Baskett, 81, of Orcutt, of “unlawfully, and without malice” killing a woman in the May 2 incident.

Tiffany Ann Peterson, 39, of Orcutt was killed in the crash on the afternoon of May 2.

She 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.

Baskett serves as elected official on both the airport board and the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District board.

The criminal complaint noted the death occurred while Baskett was “driving a vehicle in the commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to a felony, but without gross negligence; and while driving a vehicle in the commission of a lawful act which might have produced death, in an unlawful manner, but without gross negligence.”

Baskett has been ordered to appear in court for an arraignment hearing on Sept. 4 in Santa Maria. The DA’s office has sent a letter, dated Aug. 8, to Baskett advising him of the criminal charge and hearing, warning that if he doesn’t show up a warrant would be issued for his arrest.

On Friday, Baskett said he was unaware of the criminal charge, telling Noozhawk, “I was cleared by the various agencies some time ago, was stopped and waiting for traffic to clear with a following safety vehicle when I was hit.”

“I did not get a ticket or other citation  and received a clean sheet from the DMV investigation.” he added.

While police officers investigate cases and make arrests, the District Attorney’s Office is responsible for filing criminal charges, and sometimes conducts additional investigation.

In late June, Baskett claimed he had been cleared of wrongdoing related to the crash.

In a civil lawsuit he filed against the airport district, its attorney Joshua George, and the Special District Risk Management Authority, Baskett, representing himself, said he was driving the equipment back to Quinn Rentals on Betteravia Road. 

“The Santa Maria Police, and the California State Department of Motor Vehicles have conducted thorough investigations with no violations found,” he wrote in the legal document.

The lawsuit also revealed the fatal crash was the second involving the heavy-duty vehicle, with the first occurring within the fenced area where Baskett used the forklift to move items in a hangar.

In an email attached to the lawsuit, Baskett refers to “the unfortunate parked Prius fender scrape.” He said the forklift’s right rear tire hit the car while backing up, taking responsibility, and contending “all issues have been settled with the owner.”

“The Santa Maria Police did not even want to take a report but did so as a courtesy. Please state what airport property was damaged or put at risk?” he wrote.

Baskett’s lawsuit stems from the fact his access to the air operations area, or section of the airport surrounded by chain link fence, had been cut off after the crash.

Crash Investigation

The type of vehicle involved in the crash often would be delivered to a worksite on the back of flatbed truck.

While laws about driving a forklift on public roads remain murky, California Highway Patrol officers said regulations regarding a telehandler allow their use “incidentally” on roads.

Operators still must follow traffic laws and operate the vehicle in a safe way, the CHP said. 

It appears Baskett was driving the vehicle to a rental company lot with the closest being on West Betteravia Road roughly two miles from the scene of the crash.

He said he was “checked out” by the rental company and handed the keys, adding no formal training records were required.

Baskett also said he had a safety vehicle following him, but did not identify any measures to increase the visibility of the forklift tines.

After the collision and as Police Department personnel conducted their investigation, the forklift sat near the stop sign with the equipment’s “forks” lifted in the air.

Damage to the blue Dodge truck centered on the cab and windshield area.

Airport officials said after the crash that “it does not appear that any district equipment was involved nor was board member David Baskett acting in any district capacity.”

Likewise, the high school district said he wasn’t acting in his capacity as a board member at the time of the crash.

“At this time, SMJUHSD Trustee Mr. David Baskett has not informed the district about any change in his status as a board member,’’ said Kenny Klein, district public information officer.

In June, the airport district learned its insurance agency would exclude Baskett from personal injury and liability coverage. 

He blamed the public district for the fatal crash.

“It was the airport that started the issues that led to the tragedy,” Baskett wrote.

Baskett has been involved in a protracted battle with the airport and his fellow board members, leading the four remaining members to call for his resignation. 

Baskett has filed to seek another four-year term on the airport board, but may face a challenger in the November election.

Tony Guy, who retired after a long career working for firms involved in manufacturing airplane interiors, submitted paperwork to run for the seat.