A three-year-old girl was killed in a horrific car crash just days before Christmas when the vehicle her aunt was driving overturned. Sabaa Riaz was reportedly "distracted" by her niece Huma, who was unsecured in the back of her aunt's Vauxhall Corsa at the time of the crash.
The crash happened in cold and wet conditions in Church Road, Yardley, Birmingham, at around 10.25pm on December 22, 2021. Birmingham Crown Court heard the Corsa had two defective tyres.
Before the crash, little Huma was in the back of the car but was not in a child's car seat and a seatbelt that was in place was not secure, BirminghamLive reports. Sabaa, 23, had taken her niece out in the car on a "short journey" as a "favour" to Huma's parents, Alistair Smith, defending, said.
Sabaa had overtaken two other vehicles and was reportedly pulling back in front of them when her Corsa mounted the pavement, hit a fence and overturned. Both Sabaa and Huma were thrown from the car, but tragically Huma died from her injuries the next day.
An MoT was due for the Corsa the next day, when the car's defective tyres would have been discovered. Judge Paul Farrer KC said Sabaa was unaware of the faults with her car, but said as the driver, she was responsible for the vehicle and making sure it was in a roadworthy condition.
Paul Spratt, prosecuting, said: "It appears she became distracted by Huma in the rear. It was a combination of being distracted and two defective tyres that lead to tragic consequences."
Sabaa, 23, of The Meadway, Yardley, had previously admitted causing death by careless driving. She was sentenced to an 18-month community order and banned from the roads for 12 months.
Passing sentence, Judge Farrer told her: "This is a tragic case for all concerned. Huma was your niece and at the time she was just three. She was undoubtedly the much-loved daughter of your brother and your sister-in-law.
"It goes without saying but she had the whole of her life ahead of her. You were trusted to take Huma for a short drive. You were responsible for her wellbeing and you breached that responsibility in two ways.
"First you put Huma in the back of your car and drove away without putting her in the car seat. In that way you increased her vulnerability in the event of an accident.
"The MoT of the Corsa was due to expire on December 22. In those circumstances this car had significant problems to both its near side tyres."
The judge said Riaz was unaware of the faults but, as the driver, she was responsible for the car to be in a roadworthy condition. He went on: "You allowed yourself to be distracted by Huma who was unsecured."
But Judge Farrer said he had taken into account Sabaa's previous good character and that she had always worked hard. He told her: "Huma was your niece and you undoubtedly loved her and were assisting with her care.
"I have no doubt you are genuinely and profoundly remorseful." Mr Smith said: "This is a tragedy which this family and the defendant will struggle to recover from.
"It was a short journey and was done as a favour." He said Riaz had ten GCSEs and had taken a degree and at the time had been working as a carer for an agency, visiting five or six patients in their homes.
A number of tributes - balloons, flowers and teddies - were left at the scene in memory of the child after she died in the crash. Pink and yellow flowers, soft toys and balloons were left at the side of the road amid an outpouring of grief for the little girl.
