Constable Mia Lay, a 20-year-old police officer based at South Sydney, was killed when the marked police car she was travelling in struck a tree in Redfern at approximately 1:30am on Friday. The tragedy has shocked NSW Police, with Commissioner Mal Lanyon describing the loss of the young officer, who had shown exceptional promise during her 16 months in the force, as "a terrible tragedy". Her death represents a significant loss to the police service and her community.

Ms Lay was a passenger in the vehicle when it crashed; the male officer driving was treated by paramedics and taken to hospital in a stable condition. The force of the impact was so severe that it tore the Volkswagen apart, killing her instantly. Ms Lay, described by colleagues as an "angel" and deeply loved, was particularly proud of her work as a police officer. Regent Street in the area remains closed, and the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission has indicated it will monitor NSW Police's investigation to ensure public confidence.