Girl airlifted, 7 others injured in Hwy. 59 crash

Eight people were taken to hospital aftera car crash thatclosed Manitoba's Highway 59 Saturday afternoon.

RCMPwere called to the crash threekilometresnorth of Scanterbury, Man. around11:30 a.m.

A Jeep drifted into oncoming traffic, RCMP say. Photos show both a white Jeep and black pickup severely damaged.

The 27-year-old driver of the Jeep, two men and an 11-year-old boy, all from Winnipeg, were taken to hospital.

All four occupants of the pickup truck were hospitalized as well: a man, a woman, a boy and a girl.

The girl was in serious condition, and STARS Air Ambulance transported her tothe Children's Hospital at HSC. A spokesperson said the servicelater flewanother patient from the crash,a woman,from Selkirk Hospital to HSC.

RCMPsay alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

It appears all eight were wearing seatbelts.

RCMPare preparing to lay charges against the driver of the Jeep.

The highway remained closed until after 5 p.m.