Police investigation as three dead, Payne Haas’ mum involved in horror crash

New details about the horror crash that critically injured the mother of Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas reveal the three people killed were from the same family.

Three members of the same family were killed in the horror Gold Coast crash that left the mother of Broncos NRL star Payne Haas in hospital with critical injuries.

Two vehicles collided, with one spinning off the road into a power pole and bursting into flames, on Bonogin Rd in the Gold Coast hinterland about 5pm Friday.

Uiatu “Joan” Taufua, 46, the mother of Payne Haas, remains in hospital with serious injuries, but the three occupants of another car, a 79-year-old man, his 70-year-old wife and their 35-year-old daughter died at the scene.

It is understood they were a local family.

The crash is the subject of a Forensic Crash Unit probe with police investigating allegations the wagon being driven by Ms Taufua was driving erratically in the lead-up to the horrific accident.

Uiatu "Joan" Taufua has been seriously injured in a crash on the Gold Coast. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

The man and his daughter were already dead by the time emergency crews arrived, but paramedics spent almost half an hour trying to save the 70-year-old woman, who had been travelling in the back seat.

Gold Coast Police District Officer, Superintendent Craig Hanlon, said it was a terrible tragedy and called for any witnesses to contact police.

“It’s devastating at any time of year (not just the Christmas holiday period),” he said.

“But to lose three people from the same family, you can’t recover from that.”

A witness said they recognised Ms Taufua, who lives in the area. She suffered head and pelvic injuries.

Three people died in the fiery crash.

In a statement, police said officers activated their vehicle’s warning lights and attempted to intercept the wagon, but it allegedly fled the scene.

“At no time was any pursuit undertaken,” the statement said.

Just minutes later the police patrol car was flagged down by a passing motorist alerting them to the crash.

Last night Ms Taufua was listed as being in a stable condition in hospital.

No charges have been laid.

The good Samaritan who helped free Ms Taufua from the burning wreckage, a 45-year-old local man, was later taken to Robina Hospital and treated for “emotional distress”.

Brisbane Bronco Payne Haas. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The Forensic Crash Unit will investigate the circumstances of the collision and have appealed for witnesses, especially those who may have in-car footage or CCTV of the crash, or the moments leading up to it, to come forward.

Power lines were left strewn across the road along with debris from the badly damaged vehicles, with almost 1000 homes in the area left without electricity.

Police closed the road in the aftermath of the crash.

The three fatalities bring Queensland’s horror 2022 road toll to 296 people – the highest number killed on the state’s roads in a decade.

Before Friday’s crash, 293 people died on Queensland roads, including 135 drivers, 42 passengers, 29 pedestrians and 73 motorbike riders. Throughout the regions, 32 deaths were in Brisbane, 51 in the Central Region, 60 on the North Coast, 58 in the Southern Region, 36 in South Eastern, 15 in Northern, and 33 in the Far North.

Originally published as Police investigation as three dead, Payne Haas’ mum involved in horror crash