Driver jailed after his crane hit mum pushing pram
Driver Jailed for 13 Months After Crane Equipment Struck Mother Pushing Pram
Kevan Miller, a 71-year-old lorry driver from King’s Lynn, Norfolk, was sentenced to 13 months in prison following a fatal accident in Willingham, Cambridgeshire. The incident occurred on 22 September 2022, when Rebecca Ableman, 30, a healthcare assistant at Fulbourn Hospital near Cambridge, was walking with her two-year-old daughter Autumn on a village pavement alongside the B1050.
Accident and Legal Proceedings
Miller had been transporting scrap metal and was traveling through Willingham when a loose crane component struck Ableman on the head. The crane’s boom, unsecured during transit, had moved unexpectedly and was dangling from the trailer. At the sentencing at Peterborough Crown Court, Judge Matthew Lowe emphasized that securing the crane unit could have been done in a matter of moments. Ableman sustained catastrophic brain injuries and passed away three weeks after the incident.
“Rebecca’s final act was to push Autumn away,” stated her father, Russell, in a statement to the court. He described his daughter as a “hero” who had dedicated her work to supporting patients with mental health challenges.
Miller’s trial, which initially began in April 2025, was paused when his legal team requested more time. He later admitted to causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving in February of this year, just as a second trial was set to commence. Prosecutors argued that the driver’s failure to secure the crane boom adequately constituted carelessness. They noted his lorry was also poorly maintained, adding to the risk.
Defense and Sentencing Remarks
Miller’s defense barrister, John Dye, portrayed the accident as an “unfathomable” tragedy, highlighting that the driver had secured the crane without a strap for 40 years. He described Miller as a “hard-working, decent man” who had been devastated by the impact on the Ableman family. The barrister also mentioned Miller had no prior driving convictions.
“This defendant’s negligence in securing the grabber crane on his trailer caused Rebecca’s death,” the judge said. He criticized the “slipshod approach” to maintenance and noted that industry guidelines had been established. Miller was also banned from driving for two years after his release from prison.
Ableman’s mother, Susann, expressed gratitude that Autumn had escaped injury. Her partner, Chris Tuczemskyi, added that basic safety measures were overlooked, urging the judge to send a “clear message” that safety should always take precedence. The case underscores the importance of securing heavy machinery during transport, as the boom’s movement on the B1050 led to a tragic outcome.
