Crane collapses onto New York's Tappan Zee Bridge, all lanes blocked

Traffic on New York's Tappan Zee Bridge has come to a standstill after a crane collapsed around midday Tuesday, blocking all lanes.

@ThruwayTraffic: LOWER HUDSON VALLEY: Accident: in both directions on I-87 on TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE: All lanes blocked

NBC New York reported that three drivers and two workers were injured, but did not sustain serious injuries.

@rocklandgov: total of 5 people injured in #TappanZeeBridge crane collapse. 2 TZB workers, 3 drivers. No serious injures, #Rockland Ed Day says

Governor Andrew Cuomo tweeted Tuesday afternoon that the bridge will not be reopened until a structural inspection is completed in the next several hours.

@NYGovCuomo: We want to do structural inspection of the bridge. Until that is done, we're not comfortable reopening the bridge to traffic. (1 of 2)

@NYGovCuomo: The structural inspection should be done in several hours. We'll have an update when it is. (2 of 2)

He also said it wasn't immediately clear why the crane collapsed as it was performing a routine task when it happened. Cuomo said that an investigation is under way.

@NYGovCuomo: We do not know why the crane collapsed. It was a new crane performing a routine task. An investigation is underway.

Photos from the scene show debris scattered across the road.

State police said that barricades will be lifted so that drivers can turnaround and exit the bridge, according to NBC New York. Local authorities tweeted that all lanes remain blocked and that northbound drivers must take exit 8 and southbound drivers must take exit 15.

@ThruwayTraffic: LOWER HUDSON VALLEY: Accident: in both directions on I-87 on TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE: All lanes blocked: NB must exit at 8 SB must exit at exit 15

The accident occurred between milepost 13.1 and 16.2 on I-87, according to the New York Thruway Authority.

Traffic appears to be completely stopped in both directions on Google Maps. New York Thruway Authority traffic cameras in the area are currently unavailable due to the accident.

The next closest Hudson River crossings at the Bear Mountain Bridge and the George Washington Bridge also saw significant delays Tuesday afternoon.