A multi‑vehicle collision on Highway 1 east of Portage la Prairie near Oakville on Friday prompted a Code Orange alert at Portage District General Hospital, though officials say all patients are now in stable condition.
The collision, which involved a large number of vehicles, occurred earlier in the afternoon. Emergency Medical Services transported all patients from the scene to the hospital, where they were promptly triaged and assessed by staff.
Southern Health‑Santé Sud officials briefly activated the Code Orange, a mass‑casualty readiness protocol that mobilizes additional resources and personnel to deal with a large influx of patients. The alert triggered a call‑in of extra doctors, nurses and support staff to assist with the response.
The Code Orange was lifted at 2:14 p.m., and hospital officials reported that all patients brought in from the crash were in stable condition.
In an earlier alert, hospital officials had advised that some roads in the area were unsafe or closed, and they asked staff to report only if they could travel safely to the facility.
The Portage Fire Department said emergency crews have since cleared the scene of the collision. RCMP remained on site into the afternoon while tow trucks continued removing damaged vehicles.
No further details have yet been released regarding the cause of the crash or the extent of injuries.
Officials thanked hospital staff and emergency responders for their quick and coordinated response.
