Driver jailed after his crane hit mum pushing pram
Driver Jailed After Crane Equipment Struck Mother Pushing Pram
A lorry driver has received a 13-month prison sentence following a tragic accident in which a woman was hit on the head by loose crane equipment while pushing a pram through a village. The incident occurred on September 22, 2022, on the B1050 in Willingham, Cambridgeshire, leaving NHS healthcare assistant Rebecca Ableman, 30, with severe brain injuries that ultimately led to her death three weeks later.
Incident and Legal Proceedings
Ableman, who resided in a village near St Ives, was walking with her two-year-old daughter Autumn on a pavement adjacent to Station Road when the accident transpired. Kevin Miller, 71, of King’s Lynn, Norfolk, admitted to causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving during the sentencing at Peterborough Crown Court. The judge emphasized that securing the crane unit was a matter of moments.
Miller, who had been traveling from King’s Lynn to Leigh-on-Sea in Essex and then to March in Cambridgeshire, was involved in the case after initially denying the charge. The trial, which began in April 2025, was paused when legal representatives requested more time. Miller later confessed to the offense in February, coinciding with the start of a second trial jury’s evidence hearing.
Family Statements and Trial Arguments
During the hearing, Ableman’s father, Russell, shared that her final action was to shield Autumn from harm. He described her as a “hero” for her selfless act. Her mother, Susann, expressed gratitude that Autumn remained unharmed. Chris Tuczemskyi, Ableman’s partner and Autumn’s father, urged the judge to highlight the importance of basic safety measures, stating that the incident was a result of neglect.
“Securing the crane unit would have been the work of moments,” said Judge Matthew Lowe.
“This defendant’s criminal failure to adequately secure the grabber crane on his trailer is the cause of Rebecca’s death,” the judge added.
“He had not taken… an elementary precaution of strapping the crane boom down separately,” said prosecuting barrister William Carter.
“Miller had used the B1050 because of heavy traffic on bigger roads,” Carter explained. “The crane boom ‘slewed’ to the nearside as he drove through Willingham.”
“What’s happened mate? I ain’t hit no-one,” Miller claimed during questioning. “He would have stopped had he known.”
Prosecutors highlighted that Miller’s lorry was also poorly maintained, contributing to the risk. His defense barrister, John Dye, described the event as an “unfathomable” tragedy, noting Miller’s 40-year record of securing cranes without straps and his devastation over the impact on the Ableman family. Miller has no prior driving convictions.
As a result of the conviction, Miller has been disqualified from driving for two years upon his release from prison. The judge underscored the need for a more rigorous approach to safety in the industry, citing updated guidance that was finalized prior to the incident.