The heartbroken father of Constable Mia Lay says he hopes no one is found to be ‘at fault’ for the crash that killed his 20-year-old daughter, as dramatic CCTV footage shows her patrol car hurtling down a Sydney street seconds before impact.
Constable 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.
Multiple police sources said the car was travelling at more than 150km/h when it hit the tree on Gibbons Street, killing Constable Lay instantly.
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.
Her father, Clem Lay, said he just hoped ‘there’s no one at fault’.
‘If the investigation is done correctly and in detail, that’s all I could ever ask,’ he told 9News.
‘I don’t know what to say about that speed. I just looked at pictures of the car and the shape of the car and thought, yeah, that makes sense.’
Constable Mia Lay (pictured with her father Clem) died after the police car she was in crashed into a tree on Friday
In an interview with the Nine Network, Mr Lay remembered his daughter as a vibrant and athletic young woman
Police said Constable Lay died instantly, with the force of the impact tearing the police Volkswagen apart
Mr Lay also said his daughter had been considering joining the NSW Police Force’s Dog Squad, following in the footsteps of her aunt, who is a serving senior officer.
When they last spoke about her career, he said Constable Lay had been enjoying her time in the force, where she’d met the ‘love of her life’, Dan Vasquez, an officer stationed in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
‘She’s always been a sporty child, blessed with athletic ability. She’s always happy all the time, full of life,’ Mr Lay said.
‘She was very strong-willed. Like last week, she came over and was very strong-headed, asking me to paint my son’s room.
‘I just did it the day before. I was going to call her, tell her to come over and have a look, “I’ve done it finally”… and then the next morning, the police officer was at my door giving me the sad news.
‘It still hasn’t hit home, to tell you the truth. We’re all trying to come to terms with everything that’s happened.’
It comes as CCTV footage captured the moments before the patrol car carrying Constable Lay crashed into the tree.
Security camera footage from a nail salon less than 200 metres from the crash site shows the patrol car hurtling down Gibbons Street, with its lights and sirens activated, moments before the fatal collision.
Constable Lay was thinking about joining the NSW Police’s Dog Squad to follow in the footsteps of her aunt (pictured Mia at her attestation ceremony in 2025)
Footage from a nail salon less than 200 metres from the crash site shows the patrol car hurtling down Gibbons Street, just seconds before the crash
Constable Lay with her partner Dan Vasquez, who is a serving police officer in Sydney’s east
While crash investigators are yet to interview Constable Torrisi, they 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.
Constable Lay’s partner Mr Vasquez said: ‘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.
‘She was the happiest girl I’ve met. Whether she was with me or at work, I’d ask everyone to remember how stunning and beautiful she was.’
