State police were outside the historic Griswold Inn on Main Street and at a nearby gas station Monday night investigating a double stabbing incident.

State police said in a news release that troopers were called to Main Street in Essex around 8:30 p.m., and that the stabbing occurred at the Bestway Sunoco gas station at 1 Saybrook Road. Two people were taken to area hospitals for treatment, and their conditions were unavailable.

Shortly after 10 p.m., officers had strung yellow crime scene tape across Main Street as revelers continued to sing sea chanties inside the historic inn.

Enoch Panzera, who was at the Griswold Inn, said he parked about 50 yards from the restaurant Monday evening, and as he was about to leave his car, a car drove by at a high rate of speed.

He said as he approached the entrance to the Griswold Inn, he saw two people on the street — a woman sobbing and a man bleeding.

Panzera's companion, Marissa Nardone, said she was crossing the street toward the restaurant when a severely damaged car drove up the street, from the riverfront area. She said the car came to a stop in front of the inn, and a man got out with blood dripping down his face and fell on the ground.

When the incident occurred, the performers for the evening, who had been leading people in sea chanties, stopped the event to say something had happened outside. The singing resumed shortly thereafter, according to people inside the bar.

Seven police cars were parked at the Sunoco gas station on Saybrook Road across from the Essex Steam Train station, with yellow crime scene caution tape blocking the gas station entrance.

They said in a news release that they are searching for a suspect whose photo was captured via security camera. The suspect entered a dark colored, newer model Alfa Romeo Stelvio, for which state police are also looking. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Derek McGregor of the Central District Major Crime Squad at Derek.McGregor@ct.gov or 860-883-0928.