A ‘cheerful and bright’ four-year-old girl died after a horror crash on a Birmingham pavement.
Tragic Eid Evening Turns Deadly
Mayar Yahia was out with her family on Upper Highgate Street on April 14, 2024, walking home from a friend’s Eid celebration. Suddenly, a Vauxhall Corsa dangerously overtook a Mercedes and smashed into a group of pedestrians on the pavement.
Despite paramedics’ desperate efforts, Mayar didn’t survive. Two women with her were left seriously injured.
Driver Tries to Avoid Blame but Is Caught Out
Almost half an hour later, 23-year-old Javonnie Tavener returned to the crash scene and was arrested straight away.
During police questioning, Tavener claimed a second man forced him into the Corsa. But he was exposed when months later he Googled “driving negligence” and the potential penalties for causing death by careless driving—all on a mobile he told police he didn’t own.
Heavy Sentence: Five Years and Four Months Behind Bars
Tavener admitted causing death by careless driving, driving uninsured, and causing serious injury by careless driving.
At Birmingham Crown Court today, he was sentenced to three years and 10 months for the crash. An extra 18 months was added for an unrelated assault, totalling five years and four months behind bars.
He’s also banned from driving for six years.
Police described Mayar as a “cheerful and bright” little girl, a loss felt deeply by the community.
