Payne Haas' mum devastated after charged over fatal crash

The mum of an star charged over a head-on crash that claimed three lives has been left ‘devastated’ over the tragedy and still ‘isn’t well’ as she battles serious injuries in hospital.

Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua, 46, the mum of  Broncos star Payne Haas, remains in hospital under police guard with extensive internal injuries and bruised lungs four days after her black Mercedes allegedly smashed into a silver Mercedes in Bonogin on the  hinterland on Friday.

Susan Zimmer, 70, her partner Chris Fawcett, 79, and kıbrıs bahis siteleri Ms Zimmer’s daughter Steffanie, 35, died in the fiery crash while sole survivor kıbrıs bahis siteleri Taufua had to be dragged from her Mercedes wagon before she was rushed to hospital in a 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 each of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, evading police and driving without a licence.

Her matter was briefly mentioned in Southport Magistrates Court on Monday where she was represented by her high-profile 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 about (when she will be released) — the doctors haven’t told me that,’ Ms Johnson told reporters outside court.

‘It’s a really tragic event for everybody, and Ms Taufua is devastated that people have died as a result of it.’

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

Detectives said they’ve been able to ‘paint a picture’ of what allegedly happened through CCTV and eyewitness accounts. 

Police will allege Taufua was driving erratically at high speed in the ‘preceding 10 minutes of the crash’ before she allegedly veered onto  the wrong side of the road.

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

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

‘Police activated lights and sirens and when she accelerated and police followed procedure and pulled over.’

Police pulled into a church carpark to file a report.

Det Sen Sgt Procter said officers were then advised Taufau’s car had been involved in a crash 1km further up the road one minute later.

‘We have seized a lot of CCTV and painted a picture of what happened,’ he said.

Taufua’s licence was allegedly suspended at the time after she recently served a month’s jail time for assaulting two security guards at Star Gold Coast casino.

Meanwhile, Claudine Snow is still reeling over the death of her mum, stepfather and sister. 

‘I just have to accept what happened,’ Ms Snow told Nine News on Monday.

‘I don’t have any hatred in my heart.’ 

Bonogin residents have set up a tribute for the victims at the crash site and are planning to hold a community candlelight vigil at a local park in the coming days.

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

‘Seeing strangers showing their support has been really helpful throughout the grieving process,’ Ms Snow said.

Taufua will appear in court on January 11 for a bail application. 

Witnesses and anyone with dashcam or kıbrıs bahis siteleri CCTV footage of the crash or moments leading up to it are being urged to come forward.