Woman shot in the head after beeping her car horn at another drive

A woman has been shot in the head after beeping her car horn at another driver during the Friday morning rush hour in Houston, Texas.

Despite her injury, the 28-year-old motorist managed to steer her red Dodge Avenger to the side of Interstate 45 and call emergency services.

The victim, Kay Hafford, was able to give her husband's name and phone number before falling unconscious during the emergency call, authorities said.

The customer service representative is recovering in hospital after having bullet fragments removed from her skull.

Ms Hafford was joining the interstate at about 7am local time when she sounded her horn at the vehicle.

The SUV driver then began taunting her and the victim shouted back at him, police said.

The suspect pulled alongside Ms Hafford's car and fired a shot through the passenger window, hitting her in the base of her skull, before speeding off.

Harris County Assistant Chief Deputy Mark Herman told a press conference: "The victim was coherent enough to steer her vehicle off Interstate 45 Freeway on to Airtex, the exit ramp where she stopped.

"She called 911. She was incoherent because she was in and out of consciousness."

Emergency services managed to find her parked on the road about 15 minutes later.

Ms Hafford's husband arrived at the scene as paramedics were placing her in an ambulance, authorities said.

The suspect, who was driving a white SUV and wearing a blue cap, remains at large.