A 20-year-old New South Wales police officer has been killed in a car crash while responding to a reported vehicle theft in Sydney, prompting an outpouring of tributes from colleagues, politicians and members of the community.

Constable Mia Lay was killed instantly early Friday after the marked police vehicle she was travelling in crashed into a tree on Gibbons Street in Redfern, an inner-city suburb of Sydney.

Lay and a 24-year-old male colleague were responding to reports of a car theft in Glebe at about 1:30 a.m. The police vehicle was travelling with its lights and sirens activated when it left the road and struck a tree.

The male officer, who was driving the vehicle, survived the crash and was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. He was reported to be in stable condition with head and facial injuries.

A crime scene was established at the location, and the crash was declared a critical incident. Police said an investigation was underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the collision.

Lay had served with the NSW Police Force for just 16 months. She graduated from the police academy in May 2025 and was attached to the South Sydney Police Area Command.

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon described Lay as an officer who had shown exceptional promise and was well regarded by colleagues.

“To Mia, thank you for your courage, thank you for joining the NSW police force and thank you for serving the community of NSW,” Lanyon said. “You will not be forgotten.”

Lanyon became emotional while speaking about the young officer and described the crash as a “terribly difficult day” for the force.

He said police officers understood the risks associated with their work but continued to place themselves in dangerous situations to protect the public and prevent crime.

Tributes also came from politicians and people who knew Lay. MP Matt Thistlethwaite described her death as a devastating loss and said she had served the state with bravery and distinction.

Her former school, St Andrew’s Catholic Primary School Malabar, said Lay’s kindness and bright personality had touched everyone who knew her and offered its condolences to her family.

Police and Counter-Terrorism Minister Yasmin Catley said she had spoken with Lay’s parents, who told her that their daughter loved her work.

Catley said it was particularly heartbreaking that Lay had gone to work and never returned home, describing her death as a “very, very sad and dark day” for NSW.

The Police Association of NSW also expressed its condolences, saying officers faced danger during every shift while working to protect their communities.

Lay’s aunt is attached to the state’s Crime Command, while reports said her boyfriend was also a police officer who was on duty when the crash occurred.

NSW Premier Chris Minns described the death as devastating and said the entire NSW Police family was mourning the loss. He also expressed concern for the officer who was injured and for those who responded to the crash.

Police have appealed for anyone with relevant dashcam or mobile phone footage of the incident to contact Crime Stoppers as the investigation continues.

SOURCE: The Sydney Morning Herald, Richard Wood, Rebecca Masters and Joseph Sahyoun, updated September 25, 2026.