Emergency crews were on scene and police blocked off a major portion of Portage Avenue Monday morning after a suspicious package was found inside a vehicle involved in a collision.
Crews responded to the scene just before 7 a.m. to the area of Portage at Strathcona Street, said police. Two people were sent to hospital in stable condition from the crash.
Police called in the bomb unit to investigate after a suspicious package was located.
A package resembling a pipe bomb was found inside a Mitsubishi car involved in the crash, said police.
"I can tell you that the pipe bomb was later discovered to be a hoax device or made specifically to look like an actual pipe bomb, but it wasn't one," said Const. Natalie Aitken from Winnipeg police.
Both westbound and eastbound lanes were closed to traffic while police responded.
Shortly before 12 p.m. Monday, officers said all lanes of Portage Ave. had been re-opened.
Police said an investigation showed the Mitsubishi car was traveling westbound on Portage at a high rate of speed shortly before the crash.
The Mitsubishi collided with a GMC Jimmy that was trying to turn westbound onto Portage from Strathcona Street.
Officers said excessive speed is believed to be a factor in the crash.
The driver of the Mitsubishi is facing charges.
