Payne Haas granted leave from Broncos after mum charged with manslaughter
Payne Haas' mother Uiatu Taufua has been charged with three counts of manslaughter after a fatal car accident.
Payne Haas will take personal leave from the Brisbane Broncos until January 16 after his mother was charged over her alleged involvement in a car accident that killed three people. The Broncos' NRL squad returns from their Christmas break this week but Haas has been granted extra time away from Red Hill.
Haas' mother Uiatu Taufua was charged with three counts of manslaughter after a head-on car crash on the Gold Coast last Friday. She was also charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, evading police and driving without a licence.
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On Monday, Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Procter said police would allege Taufua's vehicle was driven in an extremely dangerous manner on the wrong side of the road at high speed. Haas is coming off a stellar season and was the only Broncos player selected in the Dally M Team Of The Year.
#BREAKING: Uiatu "Joan" Taufua, the mother of Broncos star Payne Haas, has been transported from hospital to Southport Watch House.
Taufua will be able to apply for bail when she faces court next week.
MORE: https://t.co/UGkSAnE94R#9News pic.twitter.com/ZYSqjhCOGX— 9News Queensland (@9NewsQueensland) January 3, 2023
He also joined Allan Langer as the second player in history to collect the Broncos' best-and-fairest award four times in a row, accomplishing the feat at only 22 years of age. Brisbane are in the midst of the longest finals drought in the club's history (three seasons) and will need another big year from Haas to break back into the top eight in Kevin Walters' third season as coach.
Haas suffered a minor ankle injury earlier in the pre-season but has since made a full recovery and returned to training. The Broncos' season begins against defending premiers Penrith on March 3.
Payne Haas' mother charged with manslaughter
Uiatu 'Joan' Taufua, 46, remains under police guard in Gold Coast Hospital after the collision at Bonogin on Friday afternoon. Susan Zimmer, 70, her partner Chris Fawcett, 79, and Ms Zimmer's daughter Stephanie, 35, were killed in the two-vehicle crash on the isolated hinterland road.
"Coomera detectives have charged a 46-year-old Bonogin woman with three counts of manslaughter following a fatal traffic crash at Bonogin on Friday," police said in a statement. She was formally charged on Monday afternoon.
Taufua was allegedly driving erratically shortly before the crash and police said she refused to stop when officers attempted to intercept her vehicle. While police did not launch a pursuit, the accident happened moments later about 1km further along the road.
"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 Procter said on Monday.
Taufua, the sole survivor of the crash, remains in the hospital in stable condition with numerous fractures and other injuries. She has been remanded in custody and is expected to apply for bail on January 11.
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