Two injured in head-on crash near Neepawa

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Photo by Ken Waddell

The crew with the STARS Air Ambulance prepare to be transported from the Neepawa Airport to the Hospital to pick up the accident victim.

Banner Staff

Neepawa Banner & Press

Two people sustained serious injuries in a multi-vehicle accident near Neepawa on Thursday, Aug. 23. Fire, police and ambulance crews were called to the scene on Hwy. 16, just east of Neepawa at around 8:45 a.m.

Initial reports suggested that a vehicle was attempting to pass some farming equipment that was driving along the edge of the road. It’s believed that when the passenger vehicle shifted into the oncoming traffic lane, it collided head-on with another vehicle headed in the opposite direction. RCMP Staff Sgt. Mark Morehouse has confirmed to the Banner & Press that a 54-year-old man from Portage la Prairie and a 48-year-old woman from Canupawakpa Dakota First Nation were injured in the accident.

Shortly after the accident occurred, the police cordoned off the scene and began relaying traffic to an alternative route. The STARS air ambulance service was also called to assist with the transport of one of the injured. A landing area was prepared to land on Hwy. 16, but was then re-directed to the Neepawa airport.

Two ambulances were seen leaving the accident site and went to Neepawa hospital, while a third ambulance was called in to take the STARS crew to the hospital to pick up an accident victim. STARS are no longer allowed to land at Neepawa Hospital due to Transport Canada regulations.

The STARS crew transported the man to the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, while the female driver was transported via ground ambulance to the Brandon Regional Health Centre. There were no other occupants in either vehicle.

The highway was reopened to normal traffic in the early afternoon, after the scene was cleared.