Front Page  »  

Elected official in Santa Maria charged with manslaughter

August 10, 2024

David Baskett

By KAREN VELIE

Prosecutors recently charged a Santa Maria man who serves on both airport and school boards for manslaughter over a May 2 crash that killed a 39-year-old woman.

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. A small pickup truck traveling southbound on Skyway Drive crashed into the fork of a Caterpillar and then also collided with a fire hydrant, causing water to flood the area.

A passenger in the pickup truck, Tiffany Ann Peterson, died at the scene in a crash that also injured the driver of the truck.

Baskett, who was attempting to move items out of a hanger following an eviction, was uninjured in the collision.

Following the crash, Baskett refused to step down from both Santa Maria Airport Board of Directors and the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Board.

Baskett is scheduled to be arraigned on Sept. 14.

 


Loading...
Subjects:     
Related:


3 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Yes, this was a horrible ACCIDENT. And it appears Mr. Baskett needed more safety training in operating a forklift. According to the tone of this reporting, as I read it, Mr. Baskett NEEDS/MUST resign from the two public positions he currently holds. I don’t know the man. He seems to be a good citizen of our community. Certainly, he is nowhere close to an Adam Hill riff raff type CCN is so fond of reporting. I would have to think he feels guilt and shame for the accident he has caused. He’s facing huge attorney fees, fines, court costs, possible jailtime. Why does this reporter feel he must resign his positions on the SM Airport Board and SM School Board? Evidently just to punish him more.


-5

Here is an article with more information about why the board has asked Baskett to resign. It has nothing to do with the reporter.

https://www.noozhawk.com/santa-maria-airport-district-board-asks-david-baskett-to-resign-after-fatal-forklift-crash/


0

Does anyone know where she worked?


-9