Daughter of family killed in Gold Coast crash wants tougher rules for Queensland drivers

The daughter of a woman killed after a black Mercedes crashed into her car has called for a mandatory prison sentence for drivers who flee police.

Claudine Snow’s mother, Susan Zimmer, died in the horrific accident after Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua allegedly hit her car in the Gold Coast upstate last Friday.

The devastating effects inside Bonogin killed everyone inside, including her sister Steffanie and her mother’s partner, Chris Fawcett.

Taufua, the mother of Broncos star Payne Haas, has been charged with a triple count of manslaughter and faces charges of dangerous driving, driving without a license and dodging the police.

Claudine Snow’s mother Susan Zimmer (pictured together) died in the horrific accident after Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua allegedly hit her car in the Gold Coast Hinterland last month

Broncos star Payne Haas’ mother, Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua (pictured left in 2019 and right Tuesday) is subject to welfare checks in prison after allegedly causing a car crash that killed three people

Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Procter said police would claim Taufua’s vehicle was driven on the wrong side of the road at high speed in an extremely dangerous manner.

The tragedy has prompted Ms Snow to call for dramatic changes to penalties for motorists attempting to evade Queensland police.

She told the Courier Mail there should be a compulsory prison term for offenders, which could be called “Susan’s Law” after her mother.

“There needs to be a greater deterrent for people dodging the police… Right now people know that if they drive away, the police won’t pursue them,” Ms Snow said.

“The other side of the coin is that you don’t want the police being pursued and involved in a tragic accident anyway, but there has to be something better than the current system.

“I know Mum would be proud of me if I could make a constructive change.”

The law could be similar to Skye’s law in NSW after toddler Skye Sassine died in a car crash caused by a man fleeing police.

Susan Zimmer, 70, and her daughter Steffanie, 35, (together above) were killed after Taufua allegedly collided with their silver Mercedes

Retired doctor Chris Fawcett, 79, (above) was killed in the car crash in Bonogin on Friday

The devastating impact at Bonogin killed everyone inside, including her sister Steffanie and her mother’s partner Chris Fawcett, but Taufua survived (pictured, the aftermath of the crash).

NSW authorities made changes to the law after the 19-month-old was killed in the horrific accident in 2009 that has left offenders with three to five years in prison.

Queensland punishes such offenders with a maximum of three years in prison, but a judge can fine them about $7,100 instead.

Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan said Queensland has the toughest laws in the state on police fugitives.

“Although the decision on sentencing is an independent matter for the courts, Parliament has made it clear that this type of crime is extremely serious,” he said.

Taufua (pictured) remains in Brisbane’s “medium-risk” women’s prison, where she is being checked on her well-being every hour

Taufua remains at “intermediate risk” at Brisbane Women’s Correctional Center, where she is checked hourly for her well-being.

The mother of Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas was brought to the center from Southport Guard House on Wednesday after being transferred from Gold Coast University Hospital on Tuesday.

She is understood to be “mentally devastated” by the tragedy.

In the meantime, there will be a funeral for Mrs. Zimmer and her daughter Steffanie next Friday on the Gold Coast.