A young girl lost her life in a tragic accident as she was walking home with her family after Eid festivities when a driver struck her with his car. Javonnie Tavener, 23, had admitted to causing the death of four-year-old Mayar Yahia through careless driving in Birmingham on April 14, 2024. The collision also left Mayar’s mother, Sara, and another woman, Awadia Hammed, severely injured. Tavener also acknowledged causing serious injury to the two women and driving without insurance.
Today, in Birmingham Crown Court, Tavener was sentenced to three years and 10 months for his driving offenses. Additionally, he received an 18-month term for assaulting his girlfriend and trying to strangle her a few weeks later, totaling a five-year and four-month prison sentence. He was also banned from driving for six years.
The court heard that Tavener’s car crashed into a group of people after colliding with another vehicle, causing Mayar’s death. Despite briefly stopping at the scene, Tavener then reversed, dragging Mayar along, before fleeing with a passenger.
Emergency services found Mayar at the accident site, but she tragically succumbed to her injuries. One of the injured women underwent nearly a month of hospitalization and surgery, while the other remained hospitalized for about three weeks.
Mayar’s father, Babiker Yahia, expressed the family’s ongoing grief, mentioning the constant reminder of the tragedy living near the crash scene. He described Mayar as a loving and kind child, highlighting the trauma experienced by her siblings who witnessed the collision.
During sentencing, Judge Cooke criticized Tavener for reckless driving at high speed in a 20mph zone while under the influence of cannabis and using a phone. The judge condemned Tavener’s actions as he drove recklessly, uninsured, and callously left the scene, causing further harm.
Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes of the West Midlands Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit emphasized the devastating impact of Mayar’s death and urged drivers to consider the grave consequences of their decisions to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
