A driver who killed a four-year-old girl when he ploughed into a crowd out celebrating Eid has been jailed for five years and four months. 

Javonnie Tavener hit ‘bright and cheerful’ Mayar Yahia in his Vauxhall Corsa before dragging her underneath his car as he tried to drive off from the scene in Highgate, Birmingham, on April 14, 2024.

The 23-year-old, who had been smoking cannabis, was on the phone at the time of the accident and was not insured.

Mayah was walking down a pavement with her family when Tavener collided with another car and hurtled past a barrier into a group of pedestrians.

The four-year-old tragically died at the roadside, while her mother, Sara and their neighbour were left seriously injured after Tavener drove round a bend and hit another car while overtaking.

Tavener fled the scene but returned to the scene on foot 30 minutes later and was arrested.

He provided a positive roadside test for cannabis but refused to give a blood sample.

It was claimed by Tavener that he had smoked cannabis after the accident, and he blamed the driver he collided with for what happened. 

Javonnie Tavener hit Mayar Yahia in his Vauxhall Corsa before dragging her underneath his car as he tried to drive off from the scene in Highgate, Birmingham on April 14, 2024

Mayar (pictured) tragically died at the roadside, while her mother Sara and their neighbour were left seriously injured 

Months after the collision, Tavener used his mobile phone to search driving negligence, and the potential ban for causing death by careless driving, despite saying to the police he did not own a mobile phone.

The court heard that Mayar had suffered skull fractures as well as intercranial injuries while her mother was taken to Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital where she remained until May 9 where she required surgery for a displaced fracture of her left shin. 

Tavener, of no fixed address, previously admitted causing Mayar’s death by careless driving, causing death while uninsured and two charges of causing serious injury by driving, as well as assault and battery.

He was jailed at Birmingham Crown Court today and was also disqualified from driving for five years.

Sentencing, Judge Peter Cooke said Tavener had been ‘fortunate’ not to have been charged with causing death by reckless driving and that he had acted with ‘sickening callousness’ after the crash.

He said: ‘This case has arisen from a tragedy.

‘The life of a little girl has been snuffed out when it had barely begun.

‘She was only four and two adults were seriously injured. Numerous other adults and children have been traumatised.

‘This can only be construed as a very bad case, excessive speed, a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre in a residential area, cannabis in your system and while you were on the phone.’

He said that a ‘grotesque’ aspect of the case was that he had dragged Mayar under his car in an attempt to drive off.

Antonie Muller, prosecutor, said the crash, which was captured on dash cam footage, occurred on Upper Highgate Street Birmingham, which had a speed limit of 20mph.

He said: ‘The car with the dash-cam was turning right when the defendant tried to overtake it.

‘The front off-side of the car turning right came into contact with the rear near side of the vehicle being driven by the defendant.

‘The defendant went on to collide with pedestrians walking home on the pavement. He was clearly in excess of the 20mph speed limit.’

Mr Muller said it had been impossible to calculate the exact speed and added: ‘The defendant remained stationary after colliding with pedestrians for about nine seconds before reversing causing Mayar to be dragged with the car.

‘The defendant had a passenger who has not been identified. Both of them got out of the Corsa and left.

‘The defendant did not phone for help, but phoned for himself.

‘He phoned for his girlfriend to come and get him by taxi and she did.’

In a statement, Mayar’s father, Babiker Yahia, said: ‘Our lives changed forever. 

‘She was just four and taken away from us by reckless and irresponsible behaviour.

‘Maya was cheerful and bright and brought happiness.

‘It was the most painful experience of our lives. She had a special place in our hearts.

‘She was telling us that she wanted to grow up so that she could help us with the cooking.

‘Her friends have grown up reaching milestones and it is hard to bear knowing that Mia will never reach those.

‘Mayar had so much to give and her life was full of potential. 

‘Mayar will always live with us in our hearts and we will never forget her.’

An image from the scene on Upper Highgate Street in Birmingham in the aftermath of the crash 

Mr Muller said aggravating factors were ‘speeding, dangerous overtaking across a junction, it was an urban setting at night, he was on the phone, and under the influence of cannabis’.

He added: ‘He has moved the car post collision, he has left the scene.

‘Mayar was a vulnerable road user and serious injury was caused to two others.’

He said that just over a month after the incident, while he was on bail, Tavener had carried out a serious assault on his girlfriend while they were on holiday in Greece.

The court heard he became angry when she had mentioned his involvement in it, punching her repeatedly in a car and strangling her until she lost consciousness.

Christopher Harding, defending, asked the judge to take into account his guilty plea and his age.

The tragedy shocked the local community and prompted renewed calls for improved road safety measures and tougher enforcement against bad drivers.

In tribute, Mayar’s family said: ‘Mayar was an extraordinary child. She was full of love and always smiling, kind to everyone and made friends easily.

‘She was cheerful and bright, and she brought happiness to everyone around her at home, in her school and her neighbourhood.

‘There are no words that can truly describe how special she as, or how much we miss her.

‘Losing Mayar has been the most painful experience of our lives. It’s not just our loss; it’s a loss to her friends and to the whole community.

‘We hope this tragedy serves as a reminder to everyone of the importance of driving safely and responsibly. No one deserves to lose a loved one like this.

‘Mayar will always be in our hearts.’

Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes, from our serious collision investigation unit, said: ‘Mayar was just four years old when her life was tragically taken away from her.

‘She was walking back with her family and friends after celebrating Eid.

‘Pedestrians should be reassured of protection when walking on the pavement and a split-second decision by Tavener to overtake where he did has led to this tragic chain of events.

‘He then made no efforts to ring the emergency services.

‘I would urge all drivers to think about this incident and how those decisions can have such catastrophic consequences.”‘