1 dead, 5 in hospital after head-on crash on Manitoba highway

One person is dead and several others are in hospital after two vehicles collided head-on on a Manitoba highway.

The crash happened around 7:20 p.m. Mondayon Highway 3, about a kilometre northeast of Sperling, Man.

One vehicle had two occupants, a man and a woman. The man, who had been driving, was pronounced dead on the scene. The female passenger was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The other vehicle had four occupants. The male driver was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The three passengers in that vehicle had non-life-threatening injuries.

STARS Air Ambulance transported two of the patients to the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg for care.

Unclear if alcohol involved: police

STARS base director Grant Therrien said when air ambulance crews arrived at the crash, fire departments from Sperling and Rosenort, Man., were working to extricate three passengers who were trapped in one of the vehicles.

"I can just say it was a terrible end to the long weekend andour hearts go out to the families that are involved this evening with this collision," Therrien said.

Police say it's unclearas yet whether alcohol was involved in the collision or if the occupants were wearing seat belts.

The road was closed following the crash.

Emergency crews were still on scene around 10 p.m.

The investigation continues.

Sperling is about 60 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg.