Driver jailed after his crane hit mum pushing pram
Driver Jailed After Crane Equipment Strikes Mother Pushing Pram
A 71-year-old lorry driver, Kevin Miller from King’s Lynn, Norfolk, has received a 13-month prison sentence following an incident where loose crane equipment struck Rebecca Ableman, a 30-year-old NHS healthcare assistant, while she was pushing a pram on a village pavement. The accident occurred on September 22, 2022, near the B1050 in Willingham, Cambridgeshire.
Sentencing and Legal Context
During the Peterborough Crown Court hearing, Judge Matthew Lowe emphasized that securing the crane unit was a simple task that could have prevented the tragedy. The case was initially halted in April 2025 when Miller denied causing death by dangerous driving, but the trial resumed in February 2025 after he admitted to the charge of careless or inconsiderate driving.
“Securing the crane unit would have been the work of moments,” stated the judge.
Family Impact and Statements
Rebecca Ableman, who lived in the village close to St Ives, was fatally injured after suffering catastrophic brain damage following the collision. Her father, Russell, shared in a statement that her final act was to shield her daughter, Autumn, from harm. He called her a “hero” for her selfless actions.
“I will be eternally grateful that Autumn was unharmed,” said her mother, Susann.
“Becky died because basic safety measures were not taken,” added her partner and Autumn’s father, Chris Tuczemskyi. “The judge should send a clear message that safety must always come first.”
Accident Details and Evidence
Prosecutors argued that Miller, who was transporting scrap metal, had failed to secure the crane boom properly. The boom, which was unstrapped, shifted unexpectedly as he drove through Willingham. After leaving the village, he realized the issue and repositioned the equipment hydraulically. Miller claimed ignorance until questioned by police, stating, “What’s happened mate? I ain’t hit no-one,” and asserting he would have stopped had he known.
Industry Guidance and Consequences
Prosecuting barrister William Carter highlighted that the crane boom “slewed” to the nearside due to inadequate securing. He noted that the driver had neglected an elementary precaution of strapping the boom separately. Additionally, the lorry was described as “poorly” maintained. In contrast, Miller’s defense, represented by John Dye, framed the event as an “unfathomable” tragedy, noting the driver had operated the crane without a strap for 40 years and was “devastated” by the impact on the Ableman family. He also mentioned Miller’s clean driving record.
Judge Lowe concluded that the driver’s failure to secure the grabber crane on his trailer directly caused Ableman’s death. He criticized the defendant’s “slipshod approach to maintenance” and stated that industry guidance had been “firmed up.” As part of the sentence, Miller has been banned from driving for two years upon his release from prison.
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