Rebecca Ableman, 30, was struck and killed by an unsecured crane on a lorry driven by Kevin Miller in Willingham, Cambridgeshire on September 22, 2022. She was pushing her two-year-old daughter Autumn in a pram when she was hit from behind, suffering catastrophic head and brain injuries. Ableman died on October 16, 2022, after life support was turned off. Her partner, Chris Tuczemskyi, stated that basic safety measures were not taken, suggesting a simple strap could have prevented the tragedy.
The collision occurred as Miller was driving his lorry on the B1050 towards Willingham, with the crane unsecured or inadequately secured, attached loosely to the load instead of properly strapped down. The load shifted during the journey on a winding road, causing the crane boom to swing out and strike Ableman from behind. Prosecutor William Carter said it should have been obvious to Miller that the crane was not properly secured.
Kevin Miller, the lorry driver, was 71 years old at sentencing in April 2024 and was 67 at the time of the incident in September 2022. He was transporting 18 tonnes of disused railway track for scrap, collected from a Network Rail yard in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. Miller left King's Lynn docks at around 3:40-3:50 am on September 22.
Becky died because basic safety measures were not taken. A £10 ratchet strap could have prevented this.
Miller was unaware of the collision when it happened and continued his journey. He learned of the incident when police confronted him upon his return to King's Lynn docks later that day. According to research, Miller stopped later and used crane controls to move the crane back to the center of the lorry.
Miller was sentenced to 13 months in prison at Peterborough Crown Court on April 14, 2024. He was also banned from driving for two years and six months. Miller pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.
The prosecution accepted a plea to causing death by careless driving after consultations with expert witnesses and the victim's family, though Miller was initially due for trial on causing death by dangerous driving. According to tachograph data, Miller's speed on the B1050 was about 30 mph, matching the speed limit.
I had been planning to have fish and chips for dinner with my girlfriend on the day she died.
Rebecca Ableman was a mental healthcare assistant. She had been out shopping at a local farm shop before being struck. Her daughter Autumn started school for the first time in 2024.
Since the incident, Miller has suffered physical and mental health issues, losing three stone in six weeks and being described as a broken man, according to research.
The Association of Lorry Loaders Manufacturers and Importers launched a campaign in February 2022 called 'Strap down your loader crane', seven months before the incident.
Life is still hard.
Unknowns persist regarding what specific safety training or protocols Kevin Miller received regarding securing crane loads prior to the incident. It is also unclear whether any regulatory or employer oversight failures contributed to the unsecured crane, beyond Miller's actions.
Further unknowns include the exact timing and location where Miller stopped to adjust the crane after the incident, and if he noticed any damage or signs of collision. Additionally, the immediate medical response and timeline for Rebecca Ableman between the strike and her arrival at the hospital have not been detailed in available reports.
It remains unknown whether there have been any civil lawsuits or compensation claims filed by Rebecca Ableman's family against Miller or his employer. Chris Tuczemskyi, Ableman's partner, noted that life is still hard, underscoring the personal loss and ongoing grief.