Driver Sentenced to Over 5 Years for Fatal Birmingham Crash

A 23-year-old driver was sentenced to more than five years in prison on Friday after pleading guilty to causing the death of a four-year-old girl and seriously injuring two women in a collision in Birmingham last year.

Javonnie Tavener received three years and 10 months for the driving offenses, plus an additional 18 months for an unrelated assault on his girlfriend weeks after the crash, at Birmingham Crown Court. He was also disqualified from driving for six years. The incident occurred on April 14, 2024, on Upper Highgate Street, where Mayar Yahia was walking home with her family and friends after Eid celebrations. Tavener, driving a Vauxhall Corsa without insurance, attempted to overtake another vehicle in a 20 mph zone at night. The maneuver caused his car to collide with a Mercedes, crash through a barrier and strike a group of pedestrians on the pavement, including Mayar, her mother Sara Yahia and another woman, Awadia Hammed.

Mayar was pronounced dead at the scene despite efforts by paramedics. Sara Yahia and Awadia Hammed suffered serious injuries; one required surgery and spent nearly a month in hospital, while the other was hospitalized for about three weeks. Court...