A Heartbreaking Legacy of Loss
In a sorrowful twist of fate, a young woman's life ended in a manner hauntingly similar to her mother's death 15 years earlier. Yazmina Howard, aged 18, tragically died after falling from a motorway bridge on the M20 in Larkfield, Kent, in 2018. This devastating event echoed the earlier loss of her mother, Maxine Carr, who fell to her death from a seven-story balcony in Maidstone, Kent, in 2003 while holding three-year-old Yazmina.
The Initial Tragedy: A Mother's Fatal Plunge
Maxine Carr, a resident of Maidstone, Kent, was believed to have been fleeing an abusive relationship at the time of her death. She feared that her ex-partner, Ivan Delgardo, planned to snatch Yazmina and return to his native Spain. According to reports, Maxine's new boyfriend, Philip Hickman, informed investigators that the couple had endured "two years of aggression" from Delgardo prior to the incident.
During the inquest into Maxine's death, neighbour Nicola Morrell recounted hearing "raised voices" from the flat above around 9 p.m. on the night of the tragedy. She observed someone walking across the balcony with a child and heard objects being thrown, accompanied by a child's distress. Although she called the police and noted that things had "calmed down," she was later awakened by a "very loud thud" and the sound of a child crying, which she described as "blood-curdling."
Miraculously, Yazmina survived the fall with her mother, sustaining a broken arm, rib, and jaw. She was subsequently raised by her grandparents, Janet and Michael Howard, who provided a loving home in the aftermath of the tragedy.
A Second Tragedy Unfolds
Fifteen years later, in 2018, Yazmina's life ended in a similarly tragic manner. After going out for pizza with a friend, she fell from a motorway bridge on the M20. Her grandmother, Janet Howard, 68, shared that she received a text from Yazmina at 9:23 p.m. saying she was okay, which turned out to be their last communication. "Whatever happened from then, we’ll never know — we don’t know what has driven her to this at all," Janet lamented.
Janet described Yazmina as a "beautiful girl inside and out who would never hurt anybody." She noted that Yazmina was an emotional person, possibly linked to the trauma of losing her mother, but seemed to "battle through it all." Yazmina did not smoke or go clubbing, and even ensured her wine was vegan due to her love for animals and concern for the environment.
The Aftermath and Reflections
Yazmina's grandfather, Michael Howard, 70, added that she spent time with them and at an apartment in Hart Street for convenience while studying art, math, and multimedia at college. However, she was uncertain about continuing her course and expressed worries about starting over or getting a "terrible job with terrible money." Michael reflected, "There are more and more children getting like this and they rarely get the help and support they need. It's left a big void in our life."
This poignant story highlights the enduring impact of trauma and the tragic cycles that can affect families across generations. The Howards' loss underscores the need for greater support systems for young people grappling with emotional distress.
