A woman allegedly shot herself while sitting in a police car, after cops offered her a seat to keep warm following a car crash.

Amanda Elbert, 32, reportedly died after cops heard a gunshot as they investigated the scene of the car accident.

Ms Elbert had been sitting in the front seat of the police car which had arrived to the scene.

The incident took place after police officers from the Gas City Police Department, the Upland Police Department, and the Grant County Sheriff’s Department were called to a single vehicle crash.

They responded to the call as approximately 8:15am in Grant County, Indiana.

While officers were conducting an inventory of the Chevrolet before it had to be towed – a gunshot was heard from the police car.

It has been alleged Ms Elbert had shot herself with a handgun she had taken out of her purse.

Medics scrambled to the car and battled to save her, however she was pronounced dead.