Police believe a woman shot in the face while driving down an Auckland motorway was collateral damage

A shot from a high-powered rifle blasted through the woman's windshield as she drove along the Northwestern motorway yesterday morning.

Police say the bullet was fired from a "nearby area"... and there's no evidence to suggest it was intentional, suspecting the bullet ricocheted through the windscreen.

The woman is in Auckland City Hospital with serious but not life threatening injuries.

Police say there were a number of cars on the motorway at the time and they want to hear from any witnesses.