Her partner allegedly told police their Jeep hit a kangaroo, causing her injuries. But investigators allege she was assaulted.

A family has been left devastated after a “kind, strong” woman died following an alleged assault by her partner, who police say reported a crash involving a kangaroo.

Christine Marshall Hunter, 27, was allegedly found dead with visible facial injuries on the Barkly Highway near Barkly Homestead in the Northern Territory about 8am on Sunday.

Police allege a 33-year-old man called Triple-0 about 5.47am, reporting his partner had stopped breathing and needed medical assistance.

“He further reported that they had apparently struck a kangaroo whilst driving west along the bar of the highway earlier that morning, inferring that she had suffered harm as a result of that strike,” NT Acting Commander Mark Grieve told reporters.

But investigators allege Hunter had been assaulted hours earlier.

Police believe the pair were in a dark-coloured Jeep Cherokee parked on the side of the road near the intersection of the Barkly and Tablelands highways between 1.30am and 5.30am, when the alleged assault occurred about 1.30am.

When officers arrived, Hunter had already died.

The man has since been arrested, and police are treating her death as suspicious.

Grieve said investigators had not found any evidence of a kangaroo strike and were working to determine whether damage to the Jeep was recent or pre-existing.

It is believed the pair had travelled from Gympie in Queensland from April 1.

Police have released an image of the Jeep and are urging anyone who may have seen the vehicle or its occupants to come forward.

They are believed to have travelled through Ban Ban Springs, Emerald, Winton, Cloncurry, Mt Isa and Camooweal in Queensland.

Family devastated by sudden death

Hunter’s sister, Jazmyne Le Cerf, told 7NEWS.com.au the Sunshine Coast family had been hit hard by her sudden death, describing her as “deeply loved”.

“She had a beautiful soul, and she was kind, strong, and full of love,” Le Cerf said.

“She meant so much to all of us and losing her has completely broken our hearts.

“She didn’t deserve what happened to her, and we want her to be remembered for the life she lived and the light she brought into our lives, not just the way she passed.

“She will always be loved and missed forever.”

Le Cerf said the pair had only begun a relationship in January.

She has since launched a GoFundMe to help bring her sister home to Queensland and give her “the goodbye she truly deserves”.

“She came from a big, loving family of eight siblings, and losing her has left a space in our lives that can never be filled,” Le Cerf wrote.

“Thank you so much to everyone who has already reached out, supported us, and shown love during this time. It truly means everything to our family.”