The police patrol car that crashed into a tree in Sydney’s inner west on Friday, killing a young female constable, was travelling at more than 150km/h, police sources have revealed.

Constable Mia Lay, 20, died after the police vehicle she was travelling in struck a tree in Redfern at about 1.30am on Friday.

She was travelling with Constable Brandon Torrisi, 24, who was behind the wheel of the Volkswagen Tiguan, after they received an urgent report of a stolen car in Glebe.

According to multiple police sources quoted by the Daily Telegraph, the car was travelling at more than 150km/h when it hit the tree on Gibbons Street, killing Constable Lay instantly.

Constable Torrisi suffered minor injuries and was released from hospital later that day.

CCTV footage emerged over the weekend showing Constable Torrisi clambering from the wreck before turning back to take in the horror.

As crash investigators attempt to piece together the cause of the collision, police have not ruled out charging Torrisi if he is found to have been speeding unnecessarily.

He has yet to be interviewed by investigators.

Constable Mia Lay, 20, died after the police car she was in crashed into a tree on Friday

Police said she died instantly, with the force of the impact tearing the Volkswagen apart

The patrol car is believed to have been going in excess of 150km/h when it crashed

‘As you can imagine, his state of mind is not great,’ a police source said.

‘There are a lot of examples where officers involved in accidents while on duty have been charged, and this case will be treated exactly the same.’

Crash investigators will also examine the patrol car for any defects or mechanical issues.

The NSW Police watchdog said it would monitor the force’s investigation into the crash to ‘ensure public confidence’.

The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission said it could not independently investigate the incident until NSW Police completed its investigation and any coronial or criminal proceedings had concluded.

It comes after Constable Lay’s family and her partner, Daniel Vasquez, a fellow officer based in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, visited the crash scene on Saturday. Mr Vasquez later described her as the ‘happiest girl’ and the ‘love of my life’.

‘Mia loved what she did in the police, she was happy in the police, she was good at her job and she was loved by everyone in the community,’ he told the Sunday Telegraph.

‘She was the happiest girl I’ve met – when she was with me, when she was at work – and I’d ask everyone to remember how stunning and beautiful she was.’

On Friday morning, officers could be seen hugging and comforting each other at the scene

The accident occurred just 100 metres from Redfern Police Station.

On Friday, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon described Constable Lay’s death as a ‘terrible tragedy’.

‘Mia was a loved police officer, she’d been in the force for 16 months, she had shown exceptional promise and was well loved,’ he said.

‘She’s shown exceptional promise and was well loved throughout the South Sydney Police Area Command.

‘She would have been an outstanding police officer, and to lose her life, both in its prime and just as she was establishing herself as a police officer, is a terrible tragedy.’

Police Minister Yasmine Catley said Constable Lay’s colleagues had called her an ‘angel’.

‘Both her parents spoke of how much she loved her job and how proud she was to be a New South Wales Police officer,’ she said.

‘It was clear the young woman loved what she was doing, but tragically, she went to work and never came home.’

Constable Lay’s mother visited Redfern Police Station afterwards and was shown her daughter’s locker.