Police are searching for an SUV after a dispute downtown on Wednesday ended with a man being struck by a driver who then fled the scene.

Two drivers, one in a black pick-up truck and another in an SUV, collided on John Street, near Queen Street W., at about 3 a.m., according Toronto police Const. Clint Stibbe.

Following the crash, the pick-up truck driver exited his vehicle and got into some kind of confrontation with the other driver.

During the altercation, the man who left his truck was hit by the other vehicle. Police said early Wednesday that the man was knocked over, but not dragged.

A black pick-up truck was side-swiped while sitting a stop sign on John Street. The collision led to a verbal altercation between drivers that then escalated. (Paul Smith/CBC)

The driver of the second vehicle then fled the scene. Police believe there were "at least" two people in the SUV at the time.

The victim, believed to be in his 30s, was rushed to a trauma centre with life-threatening injuries.

"We've got somebody fighting for their life. Over what? A minor property damage collision," Stibbe said.

Multiple witnesses have come forward, according to Stibbe, and a security camera with a "bird's eye view" of the area likely captured the incident as well, he added.