The Santa Barbara County Superior Court trial in Santa Maria for an elected official charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter after a fatal crash while he drove a heavy-duty forklift has been delayed again.

David Baskett, 82, of Orcutt has pleaded not guilty to the single charge stemming from the collision that killed Tiffany Ann Peterson, 39, of Orcutt on the afternoon of May 2, 2024.

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.

A planned trial last month was delayed because of scheduling issues as another case involving an in-custody defendant didn’t waive time for a speedy trial. That defendant’s trial instead moved to the front of the line.

On Monday, the attorneys for the Baskett case, including Deputy District Attorney Ryan Clausen, returned to Judge Karen O’Neil’s courtroom where the defense team sought the newest trial delay. 

Defense attorney Adrienne Harbottle had filed a motion requesting the postponement after an expert witness retained to testify during the trial experienced “an unforeseen medical issue.”

After granting the delay, the judge instructed the attorneys to return Dec. 9 to set a new date for the trial. 

Baskett served on the Santa Maria Public Airport District board when the fatal crash occurred, but lost his re-election bid Nov. 5.

He continues to serve on the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Board of Education.