A young woman has been transported to Health Sciences Centre in critical condition following a two-vehicle collision in Steinbach late Wednesday morning.

Steinbach Assistant Fire Chief Russ Reimer says a silver pickup truck collided with a black car at the intersection of Highway 12 and Golfair Road.

"As far as I am aware, one of the vehicles was traveling southbound at the intersection by Boston Pizza, when one vehicle was coming across, probably to turn left to go northbound, and they got struck in the driver door."

Reimer says the female driver of the car was not able to exit the vehicle on her own.

"We were told there was extrication required prior to arrival, however they managed to actually extricate by hand by some members on scene. One of our chiefs was on scene as well as EMS, they were able to actually pry the door by hand. They removed her quite quickly from the car just prior to our arrival."

Reimer says the driver of the car was transported to Health Sciences Centre by STARS Air Ambulance in critical condition. He notes the passenger of the car was transported to Bethesda Regional Health Centre by ground ambulance and the male driver, and lone occupant of the pickup truck refused treatment and was released at the scene of the collision.

Both north and southbound lanes were closed to traffic while the STARS helicopter landed on the southbound lanes of Highway 12. Reimer says an RCMP Traffic Analyst has been called in to investigate the collision. As of 3 PM, all southbound lanes on Highway 12 were reopened to traffic, and the vehicles were taken away.