One of two people taken to hospital with serious injuries after a crash west of Steinbach Friday has died.

Police say a westbound gravel truck had stopped on Highway 52 near Mitchell, Man., and was waiting for traffic to clear to turn south when a van waiting behind the truck was rear-ended by a westbound pickup truck around 10:15 a.m.

The force of the initial crash pushed the van into the gravel truck and then into the eastbound lane where it crashed head-on with an eastbound vehicle driven by a 28-year-old man from Winnipeg.

The 28-year-old man and his passenger, a 23-year-old woman also from Winnipeg, were both rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The man has since died.

The 23-year-old woman remains in hospital with serious injuries and the 19-year-old man driving the van has since been released from hospital

Police say alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

Steinbach RCMP along with a Forensic Collision Reconstructionist continue to investigate.