Latest news with #Ableman
BBC News
28-04-2025
- BBC News
Willingham mum's crane equipment death trial halted until 2026
The trial of a man accused of causing the death of a woman who was struck on the head by crane equipment while pushing a pram has been halted due to insufficient time for Ableman, 30, was with her two-year-old daughter on the pavement by the B1050 in Willingham, Cambridgeshire, when she was hit in September Miller, 70, of King's Lynn, Norfolk, denies causing death by dangerous jury at Peterborough Crown Court was discharged on Monday after it was decided more time was needed to hear from expert witnesses. Ms Ableman had left a farm shop in Station Road with her daughter Autumn when she was struck by the lorry just before 11:15 BST, the jury heard died from head and brain injuries three weeks current trial had been expected to last between five and seven days.A new trial date has been set for 23 February 2026 and is expected to last for two weeks. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
Mum's crane equipment death avoidable, court told
The death of a woman who was pushing a pram when she was struck by a crane loaded on a trailer could have been avoided if the equipment was safely secured, a court was told. Rebecca Ableman, 30, was with her two-year-old daughter beside the B1050 in Willingham, Cambridgeshire, when she was hit in September 2022. Kevin Miller, 70, of King's Lynn in Norfolk, denies causing death by dangerous driving. In a document prepared for the ongoing trial, industry expert Keith Silvester said that had Mr Miller "secured the log grapple in a central position using a ratchet strap... the incident would not have occurred". Peterborough Crown Court has heard how Mr Miller was on his way back to King's Lynn docks after transporting scrap metal to Network Rail depots on 22 September. The jury heard how the crane boom and grab had shifted to the left of the trailer and was hanging over the side when Miss Ableman was hit in Willingham. She had left a farm shop in Station Road with her daughter Autumn when she was struck by the moving lorry just before 11:15 BST. Miss Ableman died from head and brain injurie three weeks later. Mr Silvester, the technical manager of ALLMI, the trade association for the lorry loader industry, said the company's role was "to promote the safe use of lorry loaders" and to "try and raise standards". He explained that ratchet straps were typically used to secure loads to vehicles, and that "the strap will prevent movement". Prosecutor William Carter asked Mr Silvester: "If the boom and grapple had been strapped down, none of that would have happened?" He responded: "Yes." The trial continues. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Mum killed by loose crane equipment, trial told
BBC News
25-04-2025
- BBC News
Willingham mum's crane equipment death avoidable, court told
The death of a woman who was pushing a pram when she was struck by a crane loaded on a trailer could have been avoided if the equipment was safely secured, a court was Ableman, 30, was with her two-year-old daughter beside the B1050 in Willingham, Cambridgeshire, when she was hit in September Miller, 70, of King's Lynn in Norfolk, denies causing death by dangerous a document prepared for the ongoing trial, industry expert Keith Silvester said that had Mr Miller "secured the log grapple in a central position using a ratchet strap... the incident would not have occurred". Peterborough Crown Court has heard how Mr Miller was on his way back to King's Lynn docks after transporting scrap metal to Network Rail depots on 22 jury heard how the crane boom and grab had shifted to the left of the trailer and was hanging over the side when Miss Ableman was hit in had left a farm shop in Station Road with her daughter Autumn when she was struck by the moving lorry just before 11:15 Ableman died from head and brain injurie three weeks later. Mr Silvester, the technical manager of ALLMI, the trade association for the lorry loader industry, said the company's role was "to promote the safe use of lorry loaders" and to "try and raise standards".He explained that ratchet straps were typically used to secure loads to vehicles, and that "the strap will prevent movement".Prosecutor William Carter asked Mr Silvester: "If the boom and grapple had been strapped down, none of that would have happened?"He responded: "Yes."The trial continues. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Mother, 30, was killed while pushing her daughter's pram after being hit by loose crane equipment hanging off lorry, court told
A mother was killed while pushing her toddler in a pram when she was struck by crane equipment hanging off a lorry trailer, a court has heard. Rebecca Ableman, 30, was out with then two-year-old Autumn in the Cambridgeshire village of Willingham when she was hit on the head. Prosecutor William Carter told a jury that the equipment was not properly secured and was 'plainly potentially lethal'. Lorry driver Kevin Miller, 70, denies causing death by dangerous driving and is on trial at Peterborough Crown Court. The defendant was transporting scrap metal from King's Lynn docks in Norfolk to two Network Rail depots in Essex and Cambridgeshire on September 22, 2022, jurors were told. He was driving through Willingham on B1050 road when the loose crane equipment allegedly shifted from its position and was left hanging over the edge of the trailer, dangling in the way of a footpath. Ms Ableman had just left a farm shop with her daughter when she was hit by the heavy equipment at around 11.15am. The court heard the NHS healthcare assistant suffered 'very serious head and brain injuries'. She died three weeks later on October 16 in the neuro intensive care unit at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. Thomas Butler, who was driving along the road at the time of the collision, told the court he had noticed the unsecured equipment. '[I] thought it looked horrendous and I told my wife it doesn't look all right,' he said. He then spotted a woman lying on the road with cars that had stopped nearby and there were 'people running around all over the place'. Miller, of King's Lynn, was not arrested until 1.45pm and claimed he had been unaware of the incident, the jury was told. The prosecutor told the court he said he would have stopped if he had know about it and police officers heard him say: 'What's happened mate? I ain't hit no one.' The case opened yesterday with a packed courtroom gallery that included several members of Ms Ableman's family, including her partner Chris Tuczemskyi, 36, a product marketing manager. Paying tribute to Ms Ableman, who he planned to marry, at the time of her death, he said: 'To me, she was my light in the darkest of nights, my rock for when I stumbled and my best friend. 'She made me a better person, she pushed me to be and do better because she could see my potential when I could not.' Mr Tuczemskyi started a fundraising page on GoFundMe in memory of Ms Ableman, who worked in a mental health hospital in Cambridge, with funds going to East Anglian Air Ambulance and Addenbrooke's Neuro ICU. It has received more than £18,000 to date. He was also raising funds for Autumn to explore the world and create a memorial bench for her late mother. She had her first day at Willingham Primary School in September last year. The trial continues.
BBC News
23-04-2025
- BBC News
Willingham mum pushing pram killed by crane equipment, trial told
A mother-of-one died after she was struck on the back of the head by crane equipment that was hanging off a lorry trailer, a trial was Ableman was pushing her two-year-old daughter in a pram beside the B1050 in Willingham, Cambridgeshire, when she was hit in September Miller, 70, of King's Lynn in Norfolk, denies causing death by dangerous the first day of his trial at Peterborough Crown Court, prosecutor William Carter said the equipment was not secured properly and was "plainly potentially lethal". Jurors were told Mr Miller was transporting scrap metal from King's Lynn docks to two National Rail depots in Essex and Cambridgeshire on 22 he passed through Willingham, the unsecured crane equipment moved from its position and was hanging over the edge of the trailer and the footpath, the court was Ableman had left a farm shop in Station Road with her daughter Autumn when she was struck by the moving lorry just before 11:15 suffered "very serious head and brain injuries", Mr Carter said, and she died three weeks later. Thomas Butler said he was driving along the road at the time of the collision and told jurors he saw the unsecure equipment."[I] thought it looked horrendous and I told my wife it doesn't look all right," he recalled seeing a women lying on the road and that cars had come to a halt and there were "people running around all over the place".The courtroom gallery was packed and there were several members of Ms Ableman's family, including partner Chris were told that Mr Miller claimed he did not know there had been an incident until he was arrested at about 13:45 said he would have stopped if he had known about the collision and officers heard him say "what's happened mate? I ain't hit no-one", Mr Carter trial continues. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
