Mother's Heroic Final Act Revealed as Lorry Driver Jailed for Fatal Crane Incident
Shocking new images have emerged showing an unsecured crane swinging dangerously from a lorry trailer moments before it struck and killed a young mother as she pushed her toddler in a pram. Rebecca Ableman, aged 30, was hit on the head in Willingham, Cambridgeshire, in a tragic incident that occurred shortly after she moved her two-year-old daughter Autumn to safety in what has been described as a final act of heroism.
Driver Unaware of Collision
Lorry driver Kevin Miller, 71, continued on his journey completely unaware of the collision that took place just after 11am on September 22, 2022. It was not until hours later, when he returned to his depot and was confronted by police, that he realised the devastating consequences of his actions. Video footage shared this week shows Miller's lorry rumbling along a road with the unsecured crane hanging loosely by its side, highlighting the precarious nature of the load.
New images have now laid bare just how inadequately the crane was secured to the back of Miller's vehicle. Investigations revealed that he had failed to properly secure the crane to the bed of his lorry, instead attaching it loosely to an 18-ton load of disused railway track he was transporting for scrap. During his journey on a winding road, the load shifted, causing the boom to swing out and strike Ms Ableman from behind.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Miller, of Bawsey, was jailed for 13 months on Tuesday at Peterborough Crown Court after pleading guilty to causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving. He was also banned from driving for two years and six months. The prosecution had initially charged him with causing death by dangerous driving, but following consultations with expert witnesses and Ms Ableman's family, they accepted the alternative charge he admitted.
In court, prosecutor William Carter detailed how Miller had set out from his depot in King's Lynn at 3.50am and driven to a Network Rail depot in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, to pick up the scrap rails. He left around 8.30am, taking the B1050 country road through Willingham due to heavy traffic on his usual route. Carter stated that Miller had 'failed to adequately secure the boom on his crane, which amounted to carelessness' and fell below the standards expected of a competent driver.
Family Tributes and Impact Statements
Ms Ableman's heartbroken partner, Chris Tuczemskyi, told the court that he had been planning to have fish and chips for dinner with his girlfriend on the day she died. Their daughter Autumn started school for the first time in 2024, with Chris admitting life remains 'still hard'. In a victim statement, he said, 'Becky died because basic safety measures were not taken. A £10 ratchet strap could have prevented this.'
Her sisters, Natalie and Christina, revealed her heroism in their impact statement, saying, 'Her last act was to push the pram out of the way, taking the force herself and saving her child.' Ms Ableman, a mental healthcare assistant, was flown to hospital by air ambulance with catastrophic head and brain injuries but died just over three weeks later when her life support was turned off.
Safety Failures and Industry Campaign
Miller's shocking lax attitude to safety occurred despite an industry campaign launched in February 2022—just seven months before his fateful journey—by the Association of Lorry Loaders Manufacturers and Importers called 'Strap down your loader crane'. Experts found that Miller's crane was dangerous and beyond economic repair, with defects present prior to the collision, indicating a sustained period of poor maintenance.
An overload safety system had been overridden, cracks were present in the chassis, and bolts holding the crane down were in poor condition. There were no locks on stabilisers, and an emergency stop button was not functioning. Hydraulic hoses and pipes were described as being in an 'appalling' condition, with 'excessive play' in the slew that may have contributed to the crane's movement during travel.
Aftermath and Community Response
After driving through Willingham, Miller noticed in his mirror that the crane had moved and pulled over to mechanically reposition it. He then continued his journey, stopping at March to drop off his load before returning to his yard in King's Lynn, where police were waiting. Upon arrest, Miller protested, 'What happened mate? I ain't hit no one mate.' He claimed he had always secured the crane by attaching it to his load, believing the hydraulics were sufficient, and had never been advised otherwise by vehicle inspectors.
DC Kev Drury, who investigated the case, said, 'This was a shocking incident where an innocent young mum, who was walking with her daughter following a visit to a farm shop, was killed because of Miller's carelessness in not securing the crane properly. I hope this case serves as a reminder to all professional drivers to make sure their loads and equipment are fully secured. Rebecca would be alive today had Miller done this.'
Mr Tuczemskyi started a fundraising page in memory of his partner, with funds going to East Anglian Air Ambulance and Addenbrooke's Neuro ICU, as well as for Autumn to explore the world and create a memorial bench. Autumn had her first day at Willingham Primary School in September 2024, marking a poignant milestone for the grieving family.
