ELYRIA — Rescue squads responded to a three-vehicle accident on East Avenue in front of The Chronicle that sent two people to the hospital on stretchers.

The crash, a little after 9 this morning, appeared to be a chain-reaction rear-ending. It involved a white Dodge Ram 1500 pickup, a beige Chevrolet Avalanche pickup and a white Cadillac DeVille.

The drivers of the Dodge and the Cadillac, both men, had to be removed from their vehicles by rescue squads. The driver of the Dodge could be seen holding his neck. The driver of the Chevrolet pickup, also a man, was unhurt.

The Cadillac sustained heavy damage, and the Dodge and Chevy both had moderate damage.

Several lanes of East Avenue were closed for a time.