Brisbane Broncos player Payne Haas’ mother Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua in custody following car crash

The mother of NRL star Payne Haas has emerged limping from the back of a police van into custody after spending four days in hospital following a horror crash that killed three people. 

Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua, 46, was hospitalised under guard with extensive external injuries and a bruised lung after a crash in Bonogin, Gold Coast hinterlands, on Friday.

She was seen wearing her hospital wristband, compression socks and a cast on Tuesday afternoon as she was escorted into the Southport watch house.

Police allege Taufua was fleeing police when her black Mercedes smashed into a silver Mercedes in a collision where she was the only survivor.

Susan Zimmer, 70, her partner Chris Fawcett, 79, and Ms Zimmer’s daughter Steffanie, 35, all died inside their silver Mercedes while Taufua had to be dragged from her vehicle and rushed to hospital in a critical condition. 

Taufua on Monday was charged with three counts of manslaughter and one count each of dangerous operation of a vehicle, evading police and unlicensed driving for the crash. 

Taufua was involved in a horror crash (above) that allegedly saw her black Mercedes collide into another family’s car, killing three

Just hours earlier she allegedly refused to be interviewed by investigators from her hospital bed. 

She is expected to stay in custody at the inner-city Southport watch house until her hearing, which was originally scheduled for next Wednesday.

However, her departure from hospital means the hearing will likely be moved forward with Taufua expected to submit a bail application. 

The Brisbane Broncos forward’s mum is being represented by high-profile lawyer Leigh Johnson who told reporters she is ‘devastated’ by the crash. 

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

Taufua was rushed to hospital after she was pulled from her burning black Mercedes on Friday (pictured, the wreckage of Taufua’s car)

Susan Zimmer and her daughter Steffanie (above) were killed inside their silver Mercedes on Friday

Ms Zimmer’s partner Chris Fawcett (above) was killed alongside her and her daughter in the tragic crash on Monday

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 Taufua 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.

Taufua was seen wearing a hospital wristband, compression socks and a cast as she was escorted into the watch house on Tuesday afternoon (above)

Taufua’s lawyer said the mum was ‘devastated’ by the crash that left three dead (pictured, tributes left at the scene of the crash)

Police allege Taufua was evading police when she collided with the family’s car (pictured, tributes left at the scene of the crash)

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

Police pulled into a church car park to file a report.

Det Sen Sgt Procter said officers were then advised Taufua’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.

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