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ABC News
ABC News
National

Broncos player Payne Haas's mother Joan Taufua charged with three counts of manslaughter over Gold Coast crash

The mother of Brisbane Broncos player Payne Haas has been charged with three counts of manslaughter over a Gold Coast car crash in which three people died.

Uiatu "Joan" Taufua, 46, is the sole survivor of Friday's crash, which killed Susan Zimmer, 70, her partner Chris Fawcett, 79 and Ms Zimmer's daughter Stephanie at Bonogin.

Ms Taufua was formally charged on Monday afternoon with three counts of manslaughter, as well as one count each of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, evading police and driving without a licence.

She will remain under police guard at Gold Coast University Hospital with significant injuries, including multiple fractures, internal injuries and bruised lungs.

Police had been waiting until Ms Taufua's condition improved to speak with her following the Friday night collision, but are yet to interview her.

Officers were doing patrols in Bonogin when they allegedly spotted a black Mercedes being driven erratically by a 46-year-old woman at about 5pm.

Shortly after, police said they were flagged down by a passing motorist who alerted them to a collision involving the same car, about a kilometre from the attempted intercept.

Ms Taufua was freed from her vehicle by police and taken to hospital.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Procter said the crash "could only be described as a tragedy."

He said police alleged the offending car was driving in an extremely dangerous manner on the wrong side of the road at high speed.

"We have spoken to many witnesses, we have seen a lot of CCTV and we have painted a picture of what happened on that afternoon," he said.

Senior Sergeant Procter said their first interaction with Ms Taufua was "by chance".

"Police activated lights and sirens and when she accelerated, police followed policy, and they pulled over into a church or a temple out there," he said.

Roughly a minute later police were advised about an "incident further down the road".

Senior Sergeant Procter said Ms Taufua had suffered several fractures, and at the time of the crash, was taken unconscious from the car.

"We have been advised that her release from hospital would be imminent, in the coming days," he said.

She was remanded in custody and was set to appear in court in January 11 for a bail application, Senior Sergeant Procter said.

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