The south Perimeter Highway is open for traffic in both directions once again following a serious collision Sunday afternoon.

Cpl. Julie Courchaine of the Manitoba RCMP says that emergency crews were called to the Perimeter Highway and St. Anne's Rd. around 1:10 p.m. Sunday.

Courchaine says the "Initial investigation has revealed that a tow truck was struck by a semi tractor-trailer while the tow truck was pulling another vehicle from the ditch."

That initial collision caused four other vehicles to be involved in a chain reaction of collisions as a result, Courchaine says.

STARS air ambulance was called to the scene along with other emergency personnel. The RCMP says it's not clear at this time how many people were taken to hospital or the extent of their injuries.

RCMP closed traffic in both directions for several hours as a result and had asked motorists to avoid the area.

The highway was reopened to traffic in both directions just before 5 p.m. 

Witnesses in the area say that the south Perimeter was especially icy following this weekend's storm. 

Courchaine says that an RCMP traffic analyst is on scene assisting with the investigation, which is ongoing. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the collision.