A mother was hailed as a hero for sacrificing herself to save her daughter from harm when a crane on a passing lorry fatally struck her, a court revealed. The lorry driver, Kevin Miller, admitted guilt to causing death by careless driving and has been sentenced to 13 months in prison for the incident involving Rebecca Ableman. The tragic event occurred in Willingham, Cambridgeshire in 2022 while Ms. Ableman was out shopping at a local farm shop.
According to William Carter, the prosecutor at Peterborough Crown Court, the crane’s boom on Miller’s lorry shifted to the nearside, hitting Ms. Ableman from behind and causing fatal head and brain injuries. Carter highlighted that Miller failed to properly secure the crane’s boom, leading to the tragic outcome.
On the day of the accident, Miller had picked up scrap metal from a Network Rail yard in Essex and was driving through Willingham when the incident occurred. Despite traveling at the speed limit of 30mph, Miller was unaware of the collision until later when he noticed the crane’s movement in his mirrors.
Miller, upon realizing the crane’s displacement, mechanically readjusted it en route to King’s Lynn. Authorities later identified the lorry and Miller was apprehended. During police questioning, Miller expressed surprise about the incident, failing to acknowledge the necessity of securing the crane boom properly.
In sentencing, Judge Matthew Lowe emphasized that Miller’s negligence led to the avoidable tragedy. He noted that securing the crane would have averted the accident and criticized Miller for not taking basic precautions. The judge highlighted Miller’s assumption that the crane hydraulics would prevent movement, leading to the fatal collision with Ms. Ableman.
Russell Ableman, Rebecca’s father, described her as a devoted mother and NHS healthcare assistant who always went above and beyond to help others. Family members mourned Rebecca’s tragic loss, emphasizing her selfless act of protecting her daughter during the fatal incident.
John Dye, Miller’s representative, expressed remorse on behalf of his client, labeling the incident as a “freak accident.” Dye mentioned Miller’s long experience in using the crane and claimed that regulatory authorities had never flagged any improper usage before the tragedy.