A manslaughter allegation has been brought against Payne Haas’ mother after it was claimed that she killed three people in a catastrophic accident on Friday.
Uiatu “Joan” Taufua, 46, was removed from her black Mercedes wagon after it collided with a silver Mercedes and a power pole in the Gold Coast hinterland. Her son plays for the Brisbane Broncos, and she is still in the hospital with internal injuries, several fractures, and bruised lungs.
Chris Fawcett, 79, his companion Susan Zimmer, 70, and Stephanie Zimmer, 35, were the three occupants in the silver Mercedes who perished in the collision.
Prior to the collision, which occurred at approximately 5 o’clock on Bonogin Road in Bonogin, police claim Ms. Taufua was spotted “driving recklessly” and accelerated when a patrol engaged lights and sirens to try to stop her.
Following the deadly collision, police stated on Monday that Ms. Taufau had been charged with three counts of manslaughter from her hospital bed.
Additionally, she was charged with one count each of evading police, operating a vehicle dangerously, and driving without a valid license (demerit point suspended).
Police charged Ms. Taufau after she refused to be examined on Monday in the hospital.
On January 11, her case will be heard in court in order to request bail.
Prior to Ms. Taufua’s collision, police had previously acknowledged that they had abandoned their pursuit of the vehicle out of concern for everyone’s safety.
After serving a month in prison, finishing in October, for attacking two security officers at Star Gold Coast casino, Ms. Taufua’s license was supposedly revoked at the time.
Ms. Taufua was dragged from her car by a neighbor and sent to Gold Coast University Hospital right away.
Chris Fawcett, 79, his companion Susan Zimmer, 70, and Stephanie Zimmer, 35, were the three people that died in the silver Mercedes.
Living in northern New South Wales, Ms. Zimmer’s surviving daughter Claudine Snow said that the event had changed her forever.
She told Nine News, “My sister was mentally challenged, yet she could light up the room and make the coldest of hearts grin.”
“She was amazing.”
Ms. Snow said that her mother, a licensed accountant, was her closest friend.
Mr. Fawcett, a longtime expert in skin cancer, was credited by Ms. Snow with “saving so many lives.”
The pair were dubbed “wonderful folks” by a family friend.
She said to the Courier Mail that Sue was “always very nice and joyful.”
To honor the fatalities, three crosses have been erected next to the scorched accident scene.
When rescue personnel got on the scene, Mr. Fawcett and Stephanie had already passed away. Ms. Zimmer also passed away shortly after, despite their desperate attempts.
Police, emergency personnel, and members of the public who offered assistance, according to Gold Coast Superintendent Craig Hanlon, were all startled by the spectacle.
The 45-year-old guy who assisted in rescuing Ms. Taufua from her burning automobile required treatment for “emotional anguish” at Robina Hospital.
A local lady said her husband removed a woman from a car shortly before it exploded after hearing a “huge noise” and running to assist.
According to Gold Coast Superintendent Craig Hanlon, the silver Mercedes was struck by a power pole, which then fell on Ms. Taufua’s car and set it ablaze.
Supt. Hanlon sent his sympathies to the victims’ loved ones.
He told reporters, “This was a horrible, tragic situation.”
But you can’t bounce back after losing three members of the same family.
“The Queensland Police service’s thoughts and prayers are with their friends and family at this time,” the statement reads.
The reason of the collision is currently under investigation by police.
The toppled power pole left more than 1,000 houses and businesses in the region without electricity, however most got their lights back on two hours later.
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