The mum of NRL star Payne Haas has been charged with manslaughter after allegedly killing three people in a fiery crash on Friday.
Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua, 46, whose son plays for the Brisbane Broncos, remains in hospital battling bruised lungs, multiple fractures and internal injuries after being pulled from her black Mercedes wagon after it smashed into a silver Mercedes and a power pole on the Gold Coast hinterland.
Police allege Ms Taufua was seen ‘driving erratically’ shortly before the crash, which happened at around 5pm on Bonogin Road, Bonogin, and sped off when a patrol activated lights and sirens in an attempt to pull her over.
Police confirmed on Monday Ms Taufau had been charged from her hospital bed with three counts of manslaughter following the fatal crash.
She was also charged with one count each of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, evade police and drive without a driver’s license (demerit point suspended).
She remains in hospital under police guard.
Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua, remains in hospital after being involved in a fiery car crash that cost the lives of three people
Police earlier confirmed they they did not pursue the car due to public safety before Ms Taufua crashed 1km down the road.
Ms Taufua’s licence was allegedly suspended at the time after she served a month’s jail time, ending in October, for assaulting two security guards at Star Gold Coast casino.
After being pulled from her vehicle by a man living nearby, Ms Taufua was rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital, where she remains with multiple fractures, internal injuries and bruised lungs.
The three crash victims in the silver Mercedes have been identified as Chris Fawcett, 79, his partner Susan Zimmer, 70, and Ms Zimmer’s daughter Stephanie, 35.
Ms Zimmer’s surviving daughter Claudine Snow, who lives in northern NSW, said she would never be the same after the tragedy.
‘My sister was intellectually disabled but could light up the room and make the coldest of hearts laugh,’ she told Nine News.
‘She was incredible.’
Stephanie Zimmer (left) and her mum Susan (right) both died in the crash
Chris Fawcett also perished in the incident
Three people have died in the horror two-car collision on Bonogin Road in the Gold Coast hinterland on Friday night
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Ms Snow said her mum, how worked as a qualified accountant, was her best friend.
Mr Fawcett was a former skin cancer specialist, who Ms Snow said had ‘saved so many lives’.
A family friend described the couple as ‘lovely people’.
‘Sue was always so friendly and happy,’ she told the Courier Mail.
Three crosses have been set up near the charred accident site in tribute to the victims.
Mr Fawcett and Stephanie were dead by the time emergency crews arrived at the scene and despite their frantic efforts, Ms Zimmer died a short time afterwards.
Passing motorists stopped to assist at the horrific crash site, with the man who pulled Ms Taufua from the fiery wreckage of her van later needing treatment for trauma
Gold Coast Superintendent Craig Hanlon, said the scene shocked the police and emergency crews attending as well as members of the public who assisted.
The 45-year-old man who helped free Ms Taufua from her burning car needed treatment at Robina Hospital for ’emotional distress’.
A local woman said her husband ran to help after hearing a ‘massive bang’ and pulled a woman from a vehicle just moments before it exploded.
Gold Coast Superintendent Craig Hanlon said the force of the impact pushed the silver Mercedes into a power pole, which fell on Ms Taufua’s vehicle setting it alight.
The mother of Brisbane Broncos player Payne Haas (pictured, left) was pulled from her van after the crash
Supt Hanlon expressed his condolences to friends and family of the victims.
‘This was a tragic, tragic incident,’ he told reporters.
‘But to lose three people from the same family, you can’t recover from that.
‘The thoughts and prayers of the Queensland Police service are with their friends and family at this time.’
Police are still investigating the cause of the crash.
More than 1,000 homes and businesses in the area were left without electricity after the power pole was downed although most had their lights restored two hours after the accident.
