Driver Gets 13-Month Sentence After Crane Equipment Strikes Mother

A 71-year-old lorry driver from Norfolk has been sentenced to 13 months in prison following a tragic incident in Cambridgeshire where a woman was fatally struck by loose crane equipment while pushing a pram. The accident occurred on September 22, 2022, near Willingham, a village along the B1050. Rebecca Ableman, a 30-year-old NHS healthcare assistant, was injured on a pavement after being hit from behind by the crane’s unsecured grabber.

Ableman, who resided in a nearby village to St Ives, left a farm shop on Station Road when the collision happened at approximately 11:15 BST. The judge heard that she suffered severe brain trauma and passed away three weeks later. Her partner, Chris Tuczemskyi, and her father, Russell, spoke in court, describing her final act as shielding her daughter, Autumn, from harm. Tuczemskyi called the tragedy a result of “basic safety measures not being taken,” while Russell praised her as a “hero” for her selfless action.

Legal Proceedings and Admission of Guilt

Kevin Miller, the driver, initially faced charges of causing death by dangerous driving in April 2025 but was forced to halt the trial as his legal team requested more time. He later admitted to causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving in February 2025, the same month a second trial was set to begin. Prosecutors argued that Miller’s failure to secure the crane boom adequately led to the accident, citing his use of the B1050 due to heavy traffic on larger roads.

“Securing the crane unit would have been the work of moments,” stated Judge Matthew Lowe during the sentencing hearing at Peterborough Crown Court.

The judge noted that Miller had moved the crane’s boom hydraulically after realizing it had shifted but was unaware of the incident until questioned by police. He claimed, “What’s happened mate? I ain’t hit no-one,” and asserted he would have stopped had he known.

Industry Standards and Safety Concerns

Prosecutors highlighted that the crane’s boom had “slewed” to the nearside as Miller drove through Willingham, with the unsecured equipment dangling over the trailer. They emphasized the driver’s neglect of securing the boom with a separate strap, calling it an “elementary precaution.” The judge criticized the “slipshod approach” to maintenance, stating that industry guidelines had been “firmed up” to address such risks.

“This defendant’s criminal failure to adequately secure the grabber crane on his trailer is the cause of Rebecca’s death,” concluded the judge.

Miller’s defense barrister, John Dye, described the event as an “unfathomable” tragedy, noting the driver’s long-standing habit of operating the crane without a strap for 40 years. Dye highlighted Miller’s character, calling him a “hard-working, decent man” and attributing the accident to a “freak incident.” The driver has also been barred from driving for two years following his release from prison.

Ableman’s mother, Susann, expressed relief that her granddaughter, Autumn, remained unharmed, stating, “I will be eternally grateful that Autumn was unharmed.”

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