Mother 'Died a Hero' After Pushing Daughter's Pram to Safety Before Fatal Crane Collision
A mother has been described as having "died a hero" after she pushed her daughter's pram to safety moments before a crane on a passing lorry struck and killed her in a tragic incident. The court heard that Rebecca Ableman, aged 30, saved her young daughter Autumn in her final act before the fatal collision in Willingham, Cambridgeshire.
Lorry Driver Sentenced for Causing Death by Careless Driving
Lorry driver Kevin Miller, 71, has been jailed for 13 months after pleading guilty to causing death by careless driving. The incident occurred on September 22, 2022, when Miller was driving his lorry through the village of Willingham. The boom of his loader crane swung to the nearside, striking Ms Ableman in the head from behind as she walked on the pavement.
Prosecutor William Carter told Peterborough Crown Court that Ms Ableman suffered catastrophic head and brain injuries, leading to her death on October 16, 2022. The prosecution argued that Miller's failure to adequately secure the crane boom amounted to carelessness, with Judge Matthew Lowe stating that securing it "would have been the work of moments" and that the tragedy "could have so easily been avoided."
Details of the Incident and Miller's Actions
On the day of the incident, Miller had set out from his depot in King's Lynn at around 3.40am, travelling to a Network Rail yard in Leigh on Sea, Essex, to collect approximately 18 tonnes of scrap metal. As he drove back through Willingham on the B1050 road, where the speed limit is 30mph, the crane's grabber unit moved and protruded over the edge of the trailer.
Mr Carter explained that Miller was travelling at about 30mph according to his tachograph and was initially unaware of the collision. He later stopped to use the crane controls to reposition the grabber, having seen it move in his mirrors. Miller continued his journey, stopping in March to unload scrap before returning to King's Lynn, where police identified his lorry and arrived at the yard just before 2pm.
When approached by officers, Miller reportedly said, "What's happened mate? I ain't hit no-one mate." The prosecutor emphasized that Miller had not taken the "elementary precaution" of strapping the crane boom down separately, which could have been done easily with additional strapping.
Victim Impact Statements and Mitigation
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Russell Ableman described his daughter Rebecca as a "fantastic mother" and a dedicated NHS healthcare assistant who "would go the extra mile to help others." He stated that her final act was to protect her daughter, adding that she "saved" her and "died a hero."
Her sister, Natalie Rumbold, wrote in a statement: "Her last act on this earth was to push the pram away, taking the full force of the impact to save her child."
In mitigation, John Dye described the incident as an "unfathomable tragedy" and said Miller was "devastated at the harm he's caused." He noted that Miller had been using the grabber unit in the same way for 40 years and called it a "freak accident," adding that no one from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency had ever pointed out he was doing it wrong.
Sentencing and Aftermath
Judge Lowe sentenced Miller to 13 months in prison, of which he will serve no more than half before release. Miller was also banned from driving for two years, with an extension of six and a half months to cover his time in prison. During sentencing, Miller looked straight ahead and appeared to take a deep breath.
The judge highlighted that Miller had assumed the crane hydraulics and the load itself would prevent movement, but the grabber unit shifted, leading to the collision. He noted there was no suggestion Miller knew of the collision until significantly later, but he became aware the grabber had moved and pulled over to adjust it.
This case underscores the devastating consequences of failing to take basic safety precautions, resulting in the loss of a life described as heroic in its final moments.
