AKRON, Ohio -- It's bad enough that someone would steal your car, but imagine a car thief driving off with part of you still in the vehicle.

NewsChannel5's Debora Lee reported that it happened to an Akron woman, and she described her terrifying ordeal.

Jessie Mooneyham's physical bruises will heal, but it's the emotional scars that will last.

"My hand's all messed up, my arm," she said. "I can't sleep at night."

Mooneyham (pictured, above) wanted a pop when she stopped off at an area gas station. Instead, she came face to face with a carjacker who sped off in her car with her hand stuck in the door. One witness described the scene to a 911 operator.

"I saw him dragging her across the parking lot," the witness said. "She was hanging in the window."

"I got enough strength, reached up and put my legs around here and then I started punching him," Mooneyham said. "I don't know how I did it. I opened the door and flew this way and this way."

Mooneyham said the ordeal made her life flash before her eyes.

Akron police Capt. Daniel Zampelli said there are ways people can protect themselves if they are trapped in a similar situation.

"Keeping your doors locked, keeping keys and purses out of sight in the interior," Zampelli said. "If you need to go into a store and leave property in the car, lock it in the trunk beforehand."

Also, if you find yourself in Mooneyham's shoes, officials said to give the vehicle to the carjacker.

"I was gonna let him have the car," she said. "I just wanted my hand back."

Another prevention tip is to have your keys out when you return to the car. Check the front and back seats before you get in, and if your car is bumped from behind and you don't feel comfortable getting out, drive to a safe location and then call police.