A 37-year-old woman has died after being shot on a Hobart road on Thursday afternoon.

Police said a 73-year-old man, the woman’s estranged partner, allegedly confronted her in her car and fired several shots, hitting her in the face.

A passing motorist restrained the man until police arrived at the scene at New Town, in Hobart’s north.

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A 53-year old woman who was also shot in the car sustained arm and hand injuries and is in a serious but stable condition at Royal Hobart Hospital.

The man will appear in court on Friday charged with murder.

Police were called to the area to respond to reports of shots being fired on Risdon Road near the Brooker Highway about 3:15pm (AEST).

Inspector Grant Twining said officers were on the scene within minutes.

“There’s been a number of witnesses that have observed what has happened and they’ve been very forthcoming to the attending police,” he said.

“There’s nothing to indicate that there’s anyone else involved, apart from the parties that were here.”

There were children playing at a nearby soccer field at the time of the incident.

Risdon Road was closed to traffic between Albert Road and the highway.

The area was treated as a crime scene and police have appealed for more witnesses.