Mother Killed by Unsecured Crane Equipment in Willingham

Rebecca Ableman, a 30-year-old mother, died from severe head injuries three weeks after being struck on the head by unsecured crane equipment hanging off a lorry trailer while pushing her two-year-old daughter in a pram in Willingham, Cambridgeshire. The incident took place on September 22, 2022, shortly after Ableman had left a farm shop. Prosecutors at Peterborough Crown Court described the crane equipment, transported by driver Kevin Miller, as 'plainly potentially lethal' and alleged it was not properly secured, causing it to hang dangerously over the footpath. Witnesses reported seeing the hazardous equipment and raised concerns prior to the collision. Miller, who was transporting scrap metal, denied causing death by dangerous driving and claimed he was unaware of the incident until his arrest hours later. The trial continues as witness testimonies and Miller's responsibility are examined in court.