A young girl lost her life in a tragic accident as she was returning home with her family after Eid festivities, leading to the driver responsible being sentenced to jail. Javonnie Tavener, aged 23, confessed to causing the death of four-year-old Mayar Yahia by driving carelessly and colliding with her on Upper Highgate Street in Birmingham on April 14, 2024. The collision also resulted in severe injuries to Mayar’s mother, Sara, and another woman, Awadia Hammed. Tavener acknowledged two charges of causing serious injury due to careless driving and an additional offense of causing death while driving uninsured.
In a recent ruling at Birmingham Crown Court, Tavener received a prison term of three years and 10 months for his driving-related crimes. Further, he was given an 18-month sentence for assaulting and attempting to strangle his girlfriend a few weeks later, totaling a five-year and four-month imprisonment. Additionally, he was banned from driving for six years.
According to court proceedings, Tavener’s vehicle crashed through a barrier after a collision with two other cars, striking the pedestrians. Despite briefly remaining at the scene, Tavener reversed his car, resulting in Mayar being dragged alongside. He and a companion then exited the vehicle and fled on foot.
Upon arrival, emergency responders found Mayar deceased on the road, while one of the injured women underwent nearly a month of hospitalization and surgery, and the other was hospitalized for about three weeks. Mayar’s father, Babiker Yahia, expressed in a court statement the ongoing pain of residing near the accident site, which serves as a constant reminder of the tragic incident.
Judge Cooke remarked during sentencing that Tavener had driven recklessly at high speeds in a 20mph zone at night, under the influence of cannabis and using a mobile phone. The judge criticized Tavener for abandoning the scene, dragging Mayar, and exhibiting callous behavior by fleeing on foot and blaming an imaginary driver.
Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes from the West Midlands Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit emphasized the tragic loss of the young girl and urged drivers to consider the consequences of their actions, highlighting the importance of pedestrian safety.