The police patrol car that crashed into a tree in Sydney’s inner west, killing a young female constable, was travelling at more than 150km/h, police sources have disclosed.
Constable Mia Lay, 20, died when the police vehicle she was travelling in struck a tree on Gibbons Street, Redfern, at about 1.30am on Friday.
She was accompanied by Constable Brandon Torrisi, 24, who was driving the Volkswagen Tiguan. The officers had been responding to an urgent report of a stolen car in nearby Glebe.
Multiple police sources told the Daily Telegraph that the vehicle was travelling above 150km/h when it crashed into the tree, killing Constable Lay instantly.
Constable Torrisi sustained minor injuries and was discharged from hospital later on Friday.
CCTV footage released over the weekend showed Constable Torrisi climbing out of the wreckage before turning back to look at the devastating scene.
Crash investigators are working to establish what caused the collision, while police have not ruled out charging Constable Torrisi if they determine he was driving unnecessarily fast.
Investigators have not yet interviewed him.
Constable Mia Lay, 20, died when the police car she was travelling in crashed into a tree on Friday
Police said Constable Lay died instantly after the impact tore the Volkswagen apart
The patrol car is believed to have been travelling at more than 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.’
Investigators will also inspect the patrol car for possible defects or mechanical problems that may have contributed to the crash.
The NSW Police watchdog said it would oversee the force’s investigation to help ‘ensure public confidence’.
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The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission said it could not independently investigate the crash until the NSW Police inquiry, along with any coronial or criminal proceedings, had been completed.
Constable Lay’s family and her partner, Daniel Vasquez, a fellow officer based in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, visited the crash site on Saturday. Mr Vasquez later remembered 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.’
Officers were seen embracing and comforting one another at the crash scene on Friday morning
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.