A single vehicle collision in Portage la Prairie early Sunday morning left two dead, the RCMP says.

Mounties say an SUV travelling westbound on Crescent Road collided with a tree at the 4th Street SW intersection around 2:20 a.m. Sunday morning. A 22-year-old female driver and 20-year-old female passenger, both from Portage la Prairie, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators believe the SUV was travelling at a high rate of speed when it crossed over the centre line into the opposite lane, then struck the tree.

Police say it is not known if alcohol was a factor or if the vehicle occupants were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

Portage la Prairie RCMP and a Forensic Collision Reconstructionist continue to investigate.