A serious crash caused a traffic snarl late this morning in Punta Gorda.
The collision closed the eastbound lanes on Jones Loop Road.
It involved a red pickup and work vehicle hauling a trailer near Mac Drive.
Rescue crews had to cut people out of the vehicles because of the damage.
Two people needed airlifts to Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
An ambulance took a third person to Lee Memorial Hospital because of the long response time from that second chopper.
People had to avoid the area between Taylor Road and I-75 for a couple hours.