A heartbreaking incident occurred in Willingham, Cambridgeshire, when a mother was tragically killed while pushing her toddler in a pram.
Rebecca Ableman, 30, was struck by loose crane equipment hanging off a lorry trailer as she walked along the road.
The heavy machinery, which was not properly secured, swung dangerously into her path, causing fatal injuries.
The Incident
On September 22, 2022, Rebecca and her two-year-old daughter, Autumn, were out in the village when the crane equipment struck her on the head.
Prosecutor William Carter described the equipment as “plainly potentially lethal” due to its improper securing.
The lorry driver, Kevin Miller, 70, is facing charges of causing death by dangerous driving.
Miller denies the allegations, and his trial is currently ongoing at Peterborough Crown Court.
Miller, who was transporting scrap metal from Norfolk to two depots in Essex and Cambridgeshire, was driving through Willingham on the B1050 road when the unsecured crane equipment shifted.
It dangled over the edge of the trailer, obstructing the footpath.
At around 11:15 am, as Rebecca was leaving a local farm shop with her daughter, the equipment struck her.
The Aftermath
The collision caused Rebecca to suffer severe head and brain injuries.
Despite medical efforts, she passed away three weeks later, on October 16, 2022, in the neuro intensive care unit at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
A witness, Thomas Butler, who was driving nearby at the time, recalled seeing the crane equipment hanging off the trailer and expressing concern about its dangerous positioning.
“It looked horrendous,” he said, adding that he immediately noticed a woman lying on the road after the incident.
The Investigation
Miller, the driver, was not arrested until several hours after the collision.
He claimed to be unaware of the accident, saying, “What’s happened mate? I ain’t hit no one.”
Police officers testified that Miller seemed unaware of the gravity of the situation at the time of his arrest.
During the trial, Rebecca’s partner, Chris Tuczemskyi, shared a heartfelt tribute to her.
He described Rebecca as “my light in the darkest of nights” and praised her for making him a better person.
Tuczemskyi, who had planned to marry Rebecca, also started a GoFundMe campaign in her memory, raising over £18,000.
The funds are being donated to the East Anglian Air Ambulance and Addenbrooke’s Neuro ICU.
Rebecca’s Legacy
Rebecca, a healthcare assistant at a mental health hospital, leaves behind not only her partner but also their young daughter, Autumn.
The young girl started at Willingham Primary School in September 2024, marking a significant milestone in her life despite the tragic loss of her mother.
In addition to the fundraising efforts, Tuczemskyi is also working on creating a memorial bench for Rebecca, which will stand as a tribute to her legacy.
The trial continues, and the community remains in mourning as they await the outcome.