A lorry driver has admitted causing death by careless driving after a mother pushing a pram was killed by crane equipment hanging off his trailer. Kevin Miller, 70, pleaded guilty at Peterborough Crown Court to the charge, which was accepted by the prosecution ahead of a trial for causing death by dangerous driving.
Rebecca Ableman, 30, was struck on the head by the unsecured equipment while walking with her two-year-old daughter Autumn in Willingham, Cambridgeshire, on 22 September 2022. She was an NHS healthcare assistant and suffered severe head injuries, dying three weeks later on 16 October.
The court heard that Miller was transporting scrap metal from King's Lynn docks to Network Rail depots when the loose crane equipment moved and hung over the edge of the trailer and footpath. The judge, Matthew Lowe, warned Miller to expect a jail term, stating that “the custody threshold is met in this case.” Sentencing was adjourned to 14 April for a probation report, and Miller was released on unconditional bail.
Prosecutor William Carter said the decision to accept the lesser charge was made after careful consideration with the police, expert witnesses, and Ms Ableman’s family. Ms Ableman had planned to marry her partner Chris Tuczemskyi, who said: “We planned to get married but life got in the way. It's tough, especially with Autumn. They were so close.”
