A 27-year-old woman died after she lost control of a speeding SUV and slammed into a building in downtown Winnipeg early Monday, police say.

The crash happened shortly after the woman sped off from police around 1:20 a.m. near Empress Street and Portage Avenue. The SUV was believed to have been involved in a robbery at a business on Dale Boulevard, in the Charleswood neighbourhood, police said.

A representative with Peak Communications Ltd, which represents 7-Eleven Canada, confirmed the robbery took place in one of the convenience store's businesses.

Officers chased the vehicle but lost sight of it, police said. At about 1:30 a.m., the SUV hit the Buhler Centre at Portage and Good Street.

The woman was sent to hospital in critical condition, where she later died. A 30-year-old man, who was a passenger, ran from the scene but was found and arrested a short distance away.

He was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

No staff members working at 7-Eleven during the time of the incident were hurt.

"This is an unfortunate and unexpected event and we're working with our employees to support them where we can," said Laurie Smith, communications manager with Peak Communications. "To our knowledge, no [7-Eleven] employees were physically injured."

The road around the SUV is tagged in several places with evidence markers. (Gary Solilak/CBC) The crumpled SUV remains on the sidewalk beside the Buhler Centre, where a large window is shattered. A trail of destruction leads to the scene, including a knocked-down light standard, smashed cement trash containers, a broken tree and mangled sign posts.

As well, two other buildings along Portage are damaged, with broken windows or chunks of concrete knocked out of walls. Pieces of the SUV litter the street for about a block along Portage.

The eastbound lanes of Portage, from St. Mary Avenue to Memorial Boulevard, were closed from the time of the crash until just after the noon hour on Monday.

Members of the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU) have taken over the investigation, measuring distances and placing evidence markers. Anyone who witnessed or recorded the chase or crash is asked to call IIU investigators at 1-844-667-6060.

The IIU examines all serious incidents involving police officers in the province.

Police block Portage Avenue near the crash scene on Monday. (Gary Solilak/CBC)

Light standard down along with trees, trash cans and bits of SUV after this crash. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cbcmb?src=hash">#cbcmb</a> <a href="https://t.co/7wIVfovLw3">pic.twitter.com/7wIVfovLw3</a> —@CBCMeaghanK