A woman driving near one of Winnipeg's busiest shopping centres had a frightening experience when a bloodied man got into her car and told her to go.

"This male was bleeding from an upper-body injury and was quite agitated," police spokesperson Const. Jay Murray said.

The woman was waiting near the lights at St. Mary's Road and Meadowood Drive near St. Vital Centre just before 3:30 p.m. Tuesday when the man pulled open the door and hopped in.

It appeared he was being chased by two women, police said.

The woman driving the car went a few blocks south on St. Mary's and stopped at Vista Avenue, where the man got out and began to run in traffic.

He then tried to get into another vehicle but when he couldn't, he punched it and caused damage, police said.

The man then found a vehicle he could get into and forced the driver to take him a short distance before he jumped out and ran around kicking and punching other vehicles, police said.

Police were called and found the man in the area a short time later.

He was suffering from a laceration to his upper body and rushed to hospital in critical condition. He is now listed in unstable condition.

"It's very traumatizing. I mean, to think when you're sitting at a red light or wherever she was in traffic, you're focused on the road ahead of you, and to have somebody enter that vehicle in an agitated state like that and with blood everywhere, that would be a very scary situation," Murray said.

"So, definitely a lot of concern for that driver and I'm glad that she wasn't injured."

Police are trying to determine what exactly happened to the 29-year-old man but believe he was injured at home on Glen Meadow Street.

"He's in hospital right now and as soon as we can speak to this individual we will, and we hope to get a better idea and determine what transpired here," Murray said.

Police intend to charge the man with mischief and uttering threats when he recovers from his injuries. They have not been able to locate the women who were chasing him.

Intersection of St. Mary's Road and Meadowood Drive