Payne Haas’s mum remains in hospital after Gold Coast crash that killed three members of same family
Harrowing footage has emerged of the moments before a crash that killed three members of the same family as it is revealed Bronco’s mum Uiatu “Joan” Taufua – the sole survivor from the crash – is refusing to talk to police.
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The mother of Broncos star Payne Haas, the sole survivor of a horrific Gold Coast car crash which killed three people, has refused to be interviewed by police.
It comes as harrowing new footage emerges allegedly showing the moments before a shocking hinterland crash that killed three people emerges.
Susan Zimmer, 70, her partner Chris Fawcett, 79, and Ms Zimmer’s daughter Steffanie, 35, died after the horror crash at Bonogin on Friday night.
Uiatu “Joan” Taufua, 46, remains in Gold Coast University Hospital with significant wounds including multiple fractures, internal injuries and bruised lungs.
The mother of the Broncos star was the sole survivor of the crash.
Police had been waiting until she was well enough to speak to detectives and officers visited her in hospital on Monday morning, but she refused to take part in an interview.
“Police offered her the opportunity to participate in a recorded interview but she had refused,” said Gold Coast Police District Officer, Superintendent Craig Hanlon.
“At this stage the investigation is ongoing.”
Police allege Ms Taufua was seen in a black Mercedes wagon “driving dangerously” a short time before the crash and allegedly sped off when a patrol car attempted to intercept her after activating lights and sirens. No charges have been laid.
Footage that emerged overnight allegedly shows Ms Taufua’s wagon moments before the crash.
No pursuit was launched, but the officers were flagged down by a passing motorist just minutes later alerting them to the horrific scene unfolding one kilometre down the road.
Ms Taufua was allegedly driving with a suspended licence at the time of the tragedy. 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.
Susan Zimmer’s distraught surviving daughter Claudine Snow, who visited the Bonogin Rd crash site on Sunday, revealed the final conversation she had with her mother.
“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.”
A distraught Ms Snow described the tragedy as “senseless”.
“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.”
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.”
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