National

Young constable who died in crash to be farewelled

By Farid Farid

Oct 7, 2026

NSW Police Constable Mia Lay, who died in a car crash — NSW Constable Mia Lay will be laid to rest after she was killed in a car crash in Sydney. -PR HANDOUT

A young police constable is being laid to rest after she was killed in a horrific car crash.

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Constable Mia Lay, 20, had been with NSW Police for only 16 months when the marked vehicle she was a passenger in crashed into a tree early on September 25 in the Sydney suburb of Redfern.

A funeral is being held at St Andrew's Cathedral in central Sydney for Const Lay on Wednesday.

Her death was commemorated on National Police Remembrance Day on September 29 and was described as a "dark day" by NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley.

At a solemn service, NSW Premier Chris Minns paid tribute to her as "talented, optimistic, calm under pressure" and a stellar athlete who had chosen to serve the community.

"It's a reminder that we ask our police officers to grow up incredibly quickly," he told attendees.

"When their mates from school are going to uni or taking a gap year or getting a start on an apprenticeship, the men and women of the police force are already on the job, walking into danger well beyond their years."

In 2027, Const Lay's name will be added to the National Police Memorial in Canberra, where 832 touchstones engraved on the memorial wall represent police lives lost since records began in 1803.

A police march will take place along Bathurst Street beginning outside the cathedral in Sydney's city centre after the funeral service.