Kirsty Armstrong: family of young woman killed in crash in Molong NSW speak out

The parents of a young mother killed after allegedly being driven off the road by her estranged husband have slammed domestic violence services for ‘failing’ their daughter.

Kirsty Armstrong, 36, died only 400 metres from her home at Molong, near Orange in NSW’s Central West on June 9.  

The mother-of-three was killed instantly when she was driving home from the school run and her green sedan collided with a ute being driven by her estranged husband Troy Armstrong. 

Her bereaved parents, Donna and Peter Thornell (pictured), have criticised local domestic violence services who they claim failed their daughter

Armstrong, 35, who is currently in hospital with serious injuries, has been charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder after their two daughters, aged eight and 11, were injured in the crash.

Now, Ms Armstrong’s parents have broken their silence to criticise local domestic violence services who they claim failed their daughter.  

‘There was so many failures, so many failures and we finally gave her the courage to reach out and she did,’ the victim’s mother, Donna Thornell told 9News. 

Ms Armstrong applied for an AVO against her ex in November but she wasn’t granted an interim order until May, court documents reveal. She was killed less than a month later. 

Her father Peter Thornell said they wanted to campaign for change so that the same tragedy would not be repeated for another family. 

‘Something needs to change because Christy’s death is not going to be for nothing,’ he said. 

Troy Armstrong (right) has been charged with the murder of his estranged wife Kristy (left) who police allege he deliberately ran off the road

The mother-of-three died instantly in the horror smash

Mrs Thornell praised her daughter’s kind and generous nature, saying: ‘If you needed anything, she would be there within minutes.’

Her children are now being care for by their grandparents.  

A GoFundMe page set up for the family in the wake of the tragedy has so far raised almost $60,000. 

‘Kristy was the epitome of selflessness, always putting her children’s well-being and happiness above everything else,’ it notes. 

‘She worked tirelessly to provide for them, to create a loving and nurturing home, and to ensure they had every opportunity to thrive.

‘She was so selfless that she was a surrogate for her best friend giving them the greatest gift of all. There was nothing that she wouldn’t do for somebody else in need.’