Payne Haas’s mum charged over Bonogin fatal crash

The mother of Broncos star Payne Haas has been charged with manslaughter over a horrific Gold Coast crash which left three people dead, with police alleging she was driving in an “extremely dangerous manner”.

The mother of Brisbane Broncos NRL star Payne Haas has been charged with manslaughter over the horrific Gold Coast crash which left three people dead, with police alleging she was driving in an “extremely dangerous manner”.

Uiatu “Joan” Taufua, 46, was the sole survivor of the Friday night crash which claimed the lives of Chris Fawcett, 79, Susan Zimmer, 70, and her daughter Steffanie Zimmer, 35.

Taufua has been recovering in hospital with multiple serious injuries and on Monday morning refused to be interviewed by police.

However, she was charged Monday afternoon with six offences including three counts of manslaughter, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, evade police and unlicensed driving.

Uiatu "Joan" Taufua pictured in 2019. Picture: AAP/Dan Peled

Taufua had been driving on a suspended license.

Coomera Criminal Investigation Branch Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Procter said Monday afternoon that police will allege Taufua was driving on the wrong side of the road at the time of the collision.

“Police are alleging that vehicle was driven in an extremely dangerous manner on the wrong side of the road at high-speed,” Detective Procter said.

He said he could not go into specific details as the case was now before the courts, and police are still “painting the picture”. However, he said reports from witnesses and CCTV vision had been collated.

One of the cars involved in the crash that killed three people.

Detective Proctor said the manslaughter charge reflected the “seriousness of the matter”.

“The rules are there for a reason and everybody has just got to take responsibility for their own actions.”

Taufua remains under police guard in hospital and was represented by high-profile Sydney lawyer Leigh Johnson during a brief mention of the case at Southport Magistrates Court Monday afternoon.

The case was adjourned until January 11 for a bail application.

Her husband and brother attended court when her matter was mentioned on Monday.

Uiatu "Joan" Taufua was represented by Leah Johnson, of CDG Law, and supported by her husband and brother.

Outside court, Ms Johnson said her client was “devastated” by the tragedy.

“She is not well,” she said.

“She is devastated that three people have died.”

Ms Johnson said Taufua would remain in police custody if she was released from hospital before her bail application.

“I’m not sure about (when she will be released) – the doctors haven’t told me that, although I’ve asked,” Ms Johnson said.

The charges come after Susan Zimmer’s distraught surviving daughter Claudine Snow visited the Bonogin Rd crash site on Sunday, where she revealed the final conversation she had with her mother.

Steffanie Zimmer, 35 and Susan Zimmer, 70 died in the crash at Bonogin.

“The last thing (mum) said to me in a voicemail was she was worried about driving at this time of the year,” Ms Snow said.

“I wish she had of just listened to her gut feeling and didn’t go out.”

The former Gold Coaster, now living in Nambucca Heads almost four hours south of the Gold Coast with her husband and children, said she didn’t know if she could be happy again after losing her family members.

Chris Fawcett also died in the crash.

She believed her family were on their way to a restaurant for dinner when the crash occurred.They were due to travel to Nambucca Heads the next day.

Dr Fawcett had worked as a GP for many years and had specialised in skin cancer treatment. Community leaders have paid tribute to the respected doctor.

Gold Coast Medical Association president Professor Philip Morris said the Dr Fawcett would be missed by colleagues.

“He was a well-respected member of the medical community who was approaching retiring and doing his last work with skin cancer treatment at Surfers Paradise and Mermaid Beach,” he said.