Driver charged in Wednesday's three-vehicle crash

RCMP have laid charges following a three-vehicle crash on Wednesday west of Steinbach.

Hanover Fire Chief Paul Wiebe says they were called out at 7:01 am to the collision along Highway 52, just east of Road 32E. That is between Steinbach and Mitchell. Wiebe says the crash happened in the westbound lanes.

According to Steinbach RCMP, a vehicle hit a deer and stopped on the side of the road. A motorist travelling behind then pulled over to assist. A third vehicle then slammed into both parked vehicles. 

SteinbachOnline.com spoke with the driver of the Honda Civic involved in the crash. The driver says he witnessed the car ahead of him hitting the deer and decided to pull onto the shoulder to see if she needed assistance. The two drivers were standing on the shoulder when they noticed a truck driving from behind, at what appeared to be highway speed. He says the truck was driving straight towards them on the shoulder and at the last second, he grabbed the other driver and dove towards the ditch. He says the truck ended up slamming into the parked vehicles and also injured the two of them.

STARS air ambulance has confirmed that a woman in her 20's was flown to Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg in stable condition.

RCMP now say that the 41-year-old male driver of the truck, from the Rural Municipality of Hanover has been charged. He has been charged under the Highway Traffic Act with careless driving and for using a cellular telephone or other hand-operated device. A fine of $672 is associated with each charge.