Speed, alcohol blamed in Brandon crash that injured 3

One person was airlifted to hospital in Winnipeg and two others were sent to a local hospital after a crash in Brandon Friday morning.

Police say alcohol and excessive speed played a part in the two-vehicle crash, which happened at about 2:40 a.m. in the southwestern Manitoba city.

A Pontiac Grand Am was travelling at high speed when the driver lost control and slammed into a Chevrolet Traverse SUV in the 500 block of Lorne Avenue, police said.

A 19-year-old woman, who was a passenger in the Grand Am, was unresponsive and unconscious when emergency personnel arrived and used the Jaws of Life to free her from the wreck. She was rushed to Brandon hospital and then flown to Winnipeg.

Her condition is not known at this time, police said early Friday afternoon.

The 20-year-old woman who was driving the Grand Am showed signs of intoxication and remains in Brandon hospital, according to police. They have no information on her condition, either.

Of the four people in the SUV, three passengers were not hurt but the 20-year-old woman who was driving was taken to hospital for observation.

Police also suspected she had been drinking and requested a breath sample that resulted in a "warn" reading, which means she consumed alcohol but not in sufficient quantity for an arrest.

Instead, she was handed a 72-hour driving suspension.

Police are still investigating and charges are pending the results of the blood sample analysis from the driver of the Grand Am.