The West Perimeter Highway was reopened mid-afternoon after a serious collision sent two people to hospital and closed the highway for several hours.

The Manitoba RCMP says in a release that recovery crews were assisting a jackknifed semi in the northbound lanes of the highway at Portage Ave. when the collision occurred around 6:20 a.m.

Mounties say that a towing company had attended to assist the jackknifed semi earlier in the morning "and placed one tow truck behind the semi to warn oncoming drivers of the lane closure. The driver of the tow truck was also advising motorists to change lanes with an illuminated wand. A second tow truck was at the front to assist with moving the semi."

The collision occurred when a northbound semi drove into the rear tow truck. That collision then caused both the northbound semi and the rear tow truck to strike the jackknifed semi. 

The tow truck driver directing traffic saw the oncoming semi and managed to safely move away from the scene prior to the collision and did not sustain any physical injuries, police say.

The drivers of both semis sustained injuries and were transported to hospital. They are in stable condition.

The investigation is ongoing.