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Chris Fawcett, Susan Zimmer and Steffanie Zimmer killed in Gold Coast Hinterland crash

A woman who died in a horror Gold Coast Hinterland crash with her daughter and husband had a ‘gut feeling’ and was worried about driving just hours before the tragedy.

Police investigators at scene of Gold Coast triple fatal

A woman who died in a horror Gold Coast Hinterland crash with her daughter and husband had a “gut feeling” and was worried about driving just hours before the tragedy.

Retired doctor Christopher Fawcett, 79, Susan Zimmer, 70 and her daughter Steffanie Zimmer, 35, died at the scene of the Bonogin Road crash, which occurred around 5pm on Friday night.

Chris Fawcett who died in a crash at Bonogin on the Gold Coast
Chris Fawcett who died in a crash at Bonogin on the Gold Coast

Susan Zimmer’s distraught surviving daughter Claudine Snow revealed the eerie premonition when she visited the crash site on New Year’s Day.

She wiped away tears as she laid flowers on her family’s roadside memorial, marked with three white crosses.

“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 medical community is mourning the loss of Dr Fawcett, who worked as a GP for many years and had specialised in skin cancer treatment.

The sole survivor of the crash, Uiatu “Joan” Taufua, the mother of Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas, remains in the Gold Coast University Hospital.

The 46-year-old has significant wounds including multiple fractures, internal injuries and bruised lungs.

A distraught Ms Snow described the tragedy as “senseless”.

Claudine Snow at the scene of her family’s roadside memorial. Picture: Richard Gosling
Claudine Snow at the scene of her family’s roadside memorial. Picture: Richard Gosling

“I will never get over this. I want people to know, when you get behind the wheel, you have people’s lives in your hands,” she said.

“It’s destroyed my life - I don’t know if I can ever be happy again.”

The former Gold Coaster, now living in Nambucca Heads almost four hours south of the Gold Coast with her husband and children, pleaded with drivers to take care on the roads.

“I think a lot of people around here have had enough of seeing people die on our roads,” Ms Snow said.

“It shouldn’t happen. When is enough, enough?

“I have people telling me about near misses and other fatalities on this very same road.”

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.

Ms Snow first realised something was horribly wrong when she had a missed call on her phone early Saturday.

“I called the mobile number and it was someone from Queensland Police and I just dropped to my knees,” she said.

“I knew it was about mum. (The person on the phone) said ‘they’re all gone’.”

Claudine Snow hugs a community member in Bonogin. Picture: Richard Gosling
Claudine Snow hugs a community member in Bonogin. Picture: Richard Gosling

Ms Snow described her mum as her “best friend”, her sister as “beautiful” and her stepdad as someone who “saved lives”.

“My sister had an intellectual disability, but she could light up a room and make anyone laugh,” the distraught mum said.

“My stepdad and my mum, they were very avid gardeners.

“I think my stepdad would be analysing every flower (placed at the roadside memorial) and telling me to at least put them in water.

“My mum and my sister, especially my sister, she was a child at heart - she loved stuffed toys and teddy bears.”

Steffanie Zimmer (left) Susan Zimmer (right) who died in a crash at Bonogin on the Gold Coast
Steffanie Zimmer (left) Susan Zimmer (right) who died in a crash at Bonogin on the Gold Coast

Ms Snow broke down in tears and embraced a family friend and community members who visited the crash site on Sunday to pay their respects.

“Seeing strangers showing their support has been really helpful throughout the grieving process,” she said.

Ms Snow also visited the scene of the crash on Saturday afternoon with her two children after travelling from her home in northern NSW.

Claudine Snow, daughter and sister of victims of a fatal car crash at Bonogin on the Gold Coast. Picture: Nine Network.
Claudine Snow, daughter and sister of victims of a fatal car crash at Bonogin on the Gold Coast. Picture: Nine Network.

A makeshift memorial has been built at the site of the crash, with three white crosses bearing the names of the deceased.

Someone has spray-painted “3 lives lost” on the road surface.

Another sign says “3 innocent lives, Premier, Judges, RIP”.

Ms Snow was supportive of plans for a vigil or any other community event paying tribute to her family.

Gold Coast Medical Association president Professor Philip Morris said 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.

One of the cars involved in a horror Bonogin car smash on the Gold Coast's outskirts on Friday night.
One of the cars involved in a horror Bonogin car smash on the Gold Coast's outskirts on Friday night.

“We are very sad that he has lost his life in this way, particularly losing his partner and daughter too.

“The medical community grieves (Dr Fawcett’s) loss and we extend our warmest sympathy to his family who are reeling from his loss.”

Area councillor Glenn Tozer said the family was well-known in the Hinterland suburb and described it as a “horrible tragedy”.

“I hope that people will give the family a chance to grieve,” he said.

“It’s a horrible tragedy and, while sometimes our first reaction is to get angry, we should let the grieving process run its course during this difficult time.”

It is understood Ms Taufua, 46, has a lengthy traffic infringement history and had her driver’s licence suspended in November for accumulated points-based offences.

She had only weeks ago been released from jail in October after serving a month in custody for assaulting two security guards at the Star Gold Coast casino.

She is yet to speak to police about the triple fatal accident and no charges had been laid at the time of writing.

Police allege on Friday she was driving “erratically” when spotted by a patrolling police car. The police car activated their lights in a bid to intercept but it is alleged Ms Taufua sped off and the officers did not engage in a pursuit.

andrew.potts@news.com.au

Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-gold-coast/chris-fawcett-susan-zimmer-and-stephanie-zimmer-killed-in-gold-coast-hinterland-crash/news-story/cf4bdccc13f1ae2ed84028961020c647