Carjacking laws in New South Wales

A frightening carjacking incident that left a 71-year-old grandmother severely wounded has descended to a grim conclusion after the man who stole the woman's vehicle died in an extreme car crash shortly after the theft.

It is understood San Antonian woman, Shirlene Hernandez, was in the middle of her usual routine of grabbing a Diet Coke after filling up her tank at a petrol station when she was approached by a thief.

The man immediately struck her in the face and continued to do so several times before snatching the keys from her hands and driving off with her car.

According to reports from local media, while the man managed to quickly escape the scene, it wasn't long before police discovered the car on the interstate highway.