Domestic violence investigated after fatal NSW crash, police say

Police are investigating whether a crash in the NSW Central West that left a woman dead and her estranged partner in hospital was a domestic violence incident.

Kristy Armstrong died after the two-vehicle collision between a sedan and ute on Speedy Street in Molong, about 35 kilometres north-west of Orange. Emergency services were called to the wreckage about 3.40pm on Friday.

Police said the 36-year-old, who had been driving the sedan, died at the scene. Two girls, aged eight and 13, who were passengers in the car were treated for minor injuries and taken to hospital.

Troy Armstrong, Kristy’s estranged husband, was freed from the ute he had been driving. The 35-year-old remains in a critical condition in Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital, police said on Sunday.

A crime scene was established, to be forensically examined by specialist police.

NSW Police confirmed domestic violence was one line of inquiry. No charges have been laid.

“An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash in Molong on Friday remains ongoing by officers from Central West Police District, assisted by specialist police,” police said.

Cabonne Shire Council Mayor Kevin Beatty said on Sunday he was among the first people to arrive at the scene, as he was on his way to check his cows – a trip he makes three or four times a day.

“I’ve come over the hill ... I would’ve arrived probably minutes afterwards,” he said.

Beatty said two children were out of one of the cars and being cared for by people who lived nearby, and an ambulance had just arrived.

“I went down to see if I could assist with Kristy,” he said.

Beatty said even as a former police officer, such scenes are “always hard”.

“The community is quite shocked,” he said. “The loss of a life in a small community is really taken very hard. [She was] a young mum that’s involved in the community.

“[I] feel sad for the whole lot of them.”

He did not wish to comment about the police investigation.

“I think we should really let that take place,” Beatty said.

Among tributes posted online, the Orange District Softball Association said on Facebook on Saturday: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we let our softball community know one of our own, Kristy, passed away yesterday.”

“We send our deepest sympathies and lots of love to her family at this very difficult time,” the post reads. “RIP Kristy.”

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).

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