Constable Mia Lay, a 20-year-old NSW Police officer just 16 months into her career, was killed when the patrol car in which she was a passenger struck a tree in Redfern early Friday. Her colleague, a 24-year-old constable who was driving, was taken to hospital in stable condition.
The marked police vehicle was travelling north along Gibbons Street with its lights and siren on at about 1:30 a.m. on September 25. The officers were responding to a reported vehicle theft in nearby Glebe, Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said. Lay died at the scene, according to an NSW Police statement.
NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the driver before taking him to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Police established a crime scene and have asked witnesses, including anyone with dashcam or mobile phone footage, to come forward.
Who was Constable Mia Lay?
Lay joined the NSW Police Force in May 2025 and worked in the South Sydney Police Area Command. Lanyon described her as a well-loved officer who had shown âexceptional promiseâ so early in her career.
âTo Mia, thank you for your courage,â the commissioner said while paying tribute to her service. âYou will not be forgotten.â ABC News reported that Lay had recently returned from a rotation in another command and was popular among colleagues beyond her own station.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley said colleagues had described Lay as an âangel.â After speaking with her parents, Catley said they had told her how much their daughter loved being a police officer. Deputy Commissioner David Hudson said Lay also had an aunt in the NSW Police State Crime Command who had been a mentor to her.
Premier Chris Minns offered condolences to Layâs family, friends and colleagues. He also referred to her partner while speaking about those affected by her death. Australian Associated Press reported that her partner is also understood to be a serving officer. Further personal details about her family have not been publicly confirmed.
What investigators are examining
NSW Police have declared the crash a critical incident. Investigators are working to establish why the car left the road and struck the tree. Lanyon said it was too early to draw conclusions about its speed and that the investigation would examine the circumstances of the urgent response and whether driving procedures were followed.
âIt will be a complex investigation but we will get answers out of that,â Hudson said, according to ABC News. The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission said it is independently monitoring the NSW Police investigation. It said police will prepare a report for the coroner and that a mandatory inquest would ordinarily follow a death in a critical incident.
Police have not announced a cause for the crash. Anyone with relevant footage or information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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