Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua, mum of Brisbane Broncos’ Payne Haas’ is ‘devastated over Bonogin fatal crash

The mother of an NRL star charged in a head-on collision that claimed three lives has been “devastated” by the tragedy and is still “unwell” as she battles serious injuries in hospital.

Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua, 46, mother of Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas, remains in hospital under police watch with extensive internal injuries and bruised lungs four days after her black Mercedes allegedly crashed into a Mercedes silver at Bonogin, in the inland Gold Coast on Friday.

Susan Zimmer, 70, her partner Chris Fawcett, 79, and Mrs Zimmer’s daughter Steffanie, 35, were killed in the fiery crash, while the sole survivor, Taufua, had to be dragged out of her Mercedes wagon before being rushed to hospital in critical condition.

Taufua was charged with three counts of manslaughter on Monday, hours after she allegedly refused to be interviewed by police from her hospital bed.

She was also charged with one count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, evading police, and driving without a license.

Her matter was briefly mentioned at Southport Magistrates Court on Monday, where she was represented by her prominent lawyer Leigh Johnson.

Flanked by Taufua’s husband and brother leaving court, Ms Johnson said her client would remain in police custody if she was released from hospital before her bail application next week.

“I’m not sure (when she’ll be released), the doctors haven’t told me that,” Johnson told reporters outside court.

“It’s a really tragic event for everyone, and Ms Taufua is devastated that people have died as a result.”

It comes as more details emerged about the moments leading up to the tragedy.

Detectives said they have been able to “paint a picture” of what allegedly happened through CCTV and eyewitness accounts.

Police will allege that Taufua was driving erratically at high speed in the ’10 minutes before the accident’ before he allegedly swerved onto the wrong side of the road.

Officers had turned on their lights and sirens in the minutes before Taufau crashed, but did not initiate a pursuit due to public safety.

“Police allege that (Taufua’s) vehicle was driven in an extremely dangerous manner on the wrong side of the road at high speed,” Senior Sergeant Mark Procter told reporters on Monday.

“The police activated the lights and sirens and when she accelerated and the police followed the procedure and stopped.”

Police stopped in a church parking lot to file a report.

Sergeant Det Sen Procter said officers were later informed that Taufau’s car had been involved in an accident 1km further down the road a minute later.

“We have seized a large amount of CCTV and painted a picture of what happened,” he said.

Taufua’s license was allegedly suspended at the time after he recently served a month in prison for assaulting two security guards at the Star Gold Coast casino.

Meanwhile, Claudine Snow is still reeling from the deaths of her mother, stepfather, and sister.

“I just have to accept what happened,” Snow told Nine News on Monday.

‘I don’t have any hate in my heart.’

Bonogin residents organized a memorial for the victims at the crash site and plan to hold a community candlelight vigil in a local park in the coming days.

Ms. Snow paid tribute to the community for their overwhelming support.

“Seeing strangers show their support has been really helpful during the grieving process,” Ms Snow said.

Taufua will appear in court on January 11 to request a bond.

Witnesses and anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage of the accident or moments before are urged to come forward.