Her family was wiped out in a horrific crash involving a footy star’s mum. Now Claudine is demanding one vital change to save the lives of others
By Antoinette Milienos For Daily Mail Australia[1]
Published: 05:32, 17 December 2023 | Updated: 05:32, 17 December 2023
A woman, whose mum and sister died in a horror crash allegedly caused by a driver fleeing police, is desperately lobbying the government to bring in tough new laws.
Claudine Snow’s sister Steffi, 35, and her mum Susan Zimmer, 70, died when their car crashed with a vehicle allegedly driven by Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufau[2] at Bonogin in the Gold Coast[3] hinterland on December 30, 2022.
Her mum’s 79-year-old former partner Chris Fawcett was also in the car and died in the crash.
Police charged Taufua with manslaughter, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, evade police and drive without a driver’s license.
Taufua, who is the mother of Brisbane[4] Broncos NRL[5] star Payne Haas and Gold Coast Titans player Klese Haas, has been in police custody since the crash[6] and has yet to enter a plea deal.
Claudine Snow (right) is calling for Queensland to change its laws after her mother Susan Zimmer, 70, (left) and her 35-year-old sister Steffi were killed in a fiery crash by a driver who fled police
Claudine Snow’s sister Steffi, 35, and her mum Susan Zimmer, 70, died when their car crashed with a vehicle allegedly driven by NRL star’s mum Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufau at Bonogin in the Gold Coast hinterland on December 30, 2022 (pictured)
pictured, the aftermath of the fiery crash
Ms Snow is now calling on the Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan to introduce compulsory jail time for drivers found guilty of fleeing the police.
Evading the police is a criminal offence under Queensland law, with those found guilty either receiving a fine or time behind bars.
However, Mrs Snow wants to see the law changed so that drivers who are found guilty of evading police are slapped with a compulsory term of imprisonment.
She added Queensland could follow NSW after the state introduced Skye’s Law, which was named after toddler Skye Sassine who was killed in 2009 by a driver fleeing police.
In a letter written to Mr Ryan, she suggested the Queensland law could be dubbed ‘Susan’s Law’ in honour of her mum.
‘I have often wondered what would my mum do if I had died in that crash and she survived?’ she wrote, the Courier Mail[7] reported.
‘She would be advocating for change. Unless something changes, nothing changes.’
Mrs Snow said she understands not every driver obeys the law but hopes that the change would prompt drivers to think twice before fleeing police.
‘This creates a scenario where a potential offender may view stopping for police as the lesser of two evils,’ she wrote in her letter to the minister.
‘This is why I write to you seeking an audience to follow the inspiration of NSW, where Skye’s Law … makes it crystal clear that as much as an offender may not want to stop for police, consequences for the alternative are far more serious.’
Uiatu “Joan” Taufua, mother of Brisbane Broncos player Payne Haas and Gold Coast Titans player Klese Haas, has been in police custody since the crash.
It’s alleged she was driving erratically and then sped off when a patrol car tried to intercept her vehicle
Mrs Snow has penned a letter to Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan calling for drivers found guilty of fleeing police to serve a compulsory jail term (flower tributes for Steffi, Susan and Chris Fawcett)
Pictured, Stephanie and Susan Zimmer
Mrs Snow said she understands the law will not change every driver’s behaviour but claims that ‘one life saved is better than none’.
Police allege Taufua was seen driving a Mercedes wagon erratically through the suburb of Bonogin before speeding off when a patrol car activated its lights in an attempt to stop the vehicle.
Officers did not give chase but came across the horror crash site down the road a short time after trying to intercept the car.
Taufua, who was pulled from the fiery wreckage by witnesses, was the sole survivor of the crash and there is no suggestion either of the Haas brothers had any involvement.
References
- ^ Antoinette Milienos For Daily Mail Australia (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufau (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Gold Coast (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Brisbane (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ NRL (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ has been in police custody since the crash (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Courier Mail (www.couriermail.com.au)