Man’s truck parked at casino for hours before deadly crash that killed a Topeka teacher: court documents

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Newly released court documents shed light on what law enforcement found in the aftermath of a crash in 2024 that resulted in the death of a local teacher. 27 News obtained court documents this week that contain information related to the April 2024 death of Ashleigh Boyd, a local mother and teacher at Lowman Hill Elementary School. The documents detail what the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office found when it responded to the crash that killed Boyd and severely injured her infant daughter. The deadly crash happened in April 2024, but prosecutors didn't file criminal charges until March 2025. Deputies with the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office responded to a reported injury crash just before 7:45 a.m. on April 11, 2024, in the 7800 block of Southwest 53rd Street, southwest of Topeka, according to court documents. The first deputies to arrive at the crash site got there a few minutes after the initial report, finding that a 2018 Ford F-150 traveling west had crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a 2007 Nissan Versa. Boyd, who was driving the Nissan, was "killed instantly upon impact," according to court documents. Her 1-year-old daughter, Eleanor, suffered serious injuries, including a broken femur. The driver of the Ford F-150, later identified as Todd. W. Armstrong, 52, of Auburn, told law enforcement at the scene that a blown tire or mechanical failure caused his truck to veer across the centerline and into oncoming traffic, according to court documents. However, law enforcement noted there were "no obvious mechanical defects" in Armstrong's truck during a search warrant on April 15, 2024. Law enforcement also obtained information from the computer inside Armstrong's F-150, according to court documents. Law enforcement built the following timeline using computer data from Armstrong's truck: The F-150 was traveling at 63 mph just before it hit the Nissan, according to GPS data obtained during the search warrant. A witness of the crash told investigators he was traveling down Southwest 53rd Street in front of the F-150 when he saw the truck swerve across the center of the road and hit the Nissan, according to court documents. Boyd was buried at the Carbondale Cemetery on April 20, 2024. 27 News had previously interviewed Boyd in February 2024 as her husband Adan Manzano prepared to cover the upcoming Super Bowl for Telemundo KC. Manzano died in 2025 while covering the Super Bowl again in New Orleans, leaving the couple's daughter without a mother or a father. Police have arrested and charged two people in connection with his death. Police did not arrest Armstrong until a year later for his part in the deadly crash. Prosecutors filed charges against him on March 24, 2025, including: Law enforcement initially believed Armstrong committed the crimes of driving under the influence, involuntary manslaughter, driving on the left side of the road, speeding and aggravated battery, according to court documents. Armstrong bonded out of jail following his arrest. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 21, 2025. For more crime news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf