Miller admitted causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving in February 2025, after initially denying a more serious charge of causing death by dangerous driving. The incident occurred on September 22, 2022, when Ableman was walking on a pavement in Willingham with her two-year-old daughter Autumn in a pram. Miller failed to secure the crane boom to his lorry, instead attaching it loosely to the load, which shifted during the journey, causing the boom to swing out and strike Ableman from behind. She suffered catastrophic head and brain injuries and died three weeks later after life support was turned off. According to Ableman's family statements, her final act was to push the pram away, saving her child from harm.
Prosecutor William Carter described how the equipment moved during the journey. According to Carter, as Miller went through Willingham, the boom on his loader crane slewed to the near side, leaving it in a position where the crane grab could be seen overhanging the nearside of the lorry on CCTV. Carter stated that Miller's failure to adequately secure the boom of his crane amounted to carelessness, as he had not taken the elementary precaution of strapping the crane boom down separately. The exact time Miller became aware the equipment had moved and why he did not report it or investigate further at that moment remains unclear. Aftonbladet reports that Miller became aware after leaving Willingham that the equipment had moved and moved it back hydraulically.
What's happened mate? I ain't hit no one.
Miller was unaware of the incident until he was confronted by police hours later at his depot. According to BBC News - UK, Kevin Miller described his initial reaction when approached by officers. Miller used the B1050 road in Willingham because of heavy traffic on his usual route. Why Miller initially denied causing death by dangerous driving and what evidence led to the charge being reduced to careless driving has not been publicly detailed. John Dye, the barrister for Kevin Miller, said that what happened was an unfathomable tragedy.
Safety concerns were raised during the proceedings, with Carter stating that Miller's lorry was poorly maintained. What specific maintenance issues made the lorry 'poorly maintained' and whether they contributed to the incident have not been specified. The Association of Lorry Loaders Manufacturers and Importers launched a safety campaign called 'Strap down your loader crane' in February 2022, seven months before the incident. The full details of this safety campaign and whether Miller was aware of it or received related training are unknown. Whether there were any previous safety violations or incidents involving Miller or his lorry before this event has not been disclosed. Judge Matthew Lowe noted that securing the crane unit would have been the work of moments. Chris Tuczemskyi, the partner of Rebecca Ableman and father of Autumn, said that Becky died because basic safety measures were not taken, adding that a £10 ratchet strap could have prevented this. Natalie and Christina Ableman, sisters of Rebecca, said that her last act was to push the pram out of the way, taking the force herself and saving her child. Susann Ableman, mother of Rebecca, expressed that she will be eternally grateful that Autumn was unharmed.