Hummer in fatal crash was stolen near airport

The stolen Hummer SUV that killed a Winnipeg man in a crash in the North End was stolen from a parking lot near the airport just hours before, police said on Sunday.

Zdzislaw Andrzejczak, 47, died after his compact car was smashed by the massive SUV on Alfred Avenue near Andrews Street at about 3 p.m. CT on Friday.

Andrzejczak was just about two blocks from his home on Redwood Avenue.

Police said Andrzejczak wasdriving north on Andrews Street. When he entered the intersection at Alfred Avenue, the speeding westbound SUV ran a stop sign and slammed into his car.

Andrzejczak was taken to hospital in critical condition, but died soon after.

Police continue to search for three male suspects who fled the scene on foot. Witnesses at the scene told CBC News just after the crash that at least one of the males appeared to be very young and looked scared.

Investigators believe the Hummer H2 was stolen from a parking lot in the 1800 block of Wellington Avenue between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. CT.

The area is a sprawling one near the Winnipeg Internationalairport, with a number of large outdoor parking lots creating a target-rich environment for car thieves.

The stolen Hummer, a 2005 model, is not listed by Manitoba Public Insurance as being a vehicle at high risk of being stolen and wasn't required to have an immobilizer installed.

However, the public insurer said on its website that for this model, "it's still smart to get one."

Const. Jason Michalyshen said on Sunday that the vehicle was parked, and not left running and unattended at the time it was stolen.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call police at 204-986-6230 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).