Injuries after crane collapses on Tappan Zee Bridge

NEW YORK -- At least three drivers and two workers were hurt when a giant construction crane collapsed onto the Tappan Zee Bridge.

Images from the scene showed a mess of mangled metal scattered across the roadway after the crane toppled off the new Tappan Zee Bridge around noon Tuesday.

It's still unclear what caused the crane to collapse, reports CBS New York. Authorities said three drivers were hurt when they swerved to avoid the crane when it came crashing down.

Two bridge workers were also injured. The Coast Guard said a Westchester County Marine unit safely pulled a crane operator from the water.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day said none of the victims were seriously hurt, according to a message on the county's official Twitter page.

Crews from several other agencies also responded to the scene, including units from Rockland County, Piermont, Nyack and Parkway Police.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is en route and is expected to hold a news conference later Tuesday afternoon.

All traffic on the bridge was closed following the incident and the New York State Department of Transportation is urging drivers to avoid the area.

The DOT said northbound traffic was being detoured at exit 8 in White Plains while southbound traffic was being rerouted at exit 12 in West Nyack.

TAPPAN ZEExpress bus service is also suspended.

Officials say customers leaving from Grand Central Terminal should consider taking Metro-North's Hudson Line train to Ossining, where they can connect to the Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry. UniTickets will be cross-honored.

For more information on transit alternatives, click here.

Day said damage was discovered on the bridge and it's unclear when the span will reopen.

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino is urging drivers to be patient, calling it "a commuter's nightmare."

"The biggest thing right now is to make sure the bridge is safe and then open that bridge as fast as possible," Astorino said. "Because it is going to be traffic hell."

Meanwhile, Town of Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner Feiner is calling for an investigation into what happened.

"I hope that the state will conduct an extensive review of the bridge construction safety oversight," he told WCBS 880. "We were really very fortunate. It was a miracle that there were no fatalities or serious injuries. It could have been much, much worse."

Construction on the new Tappan Zee Bridge has been underway for three years. The $3.9 billion project, which is being built alongside the old span, is expected to be completed by 2018.

In March, three crew members were killed when their 90-foot tugboat sank after it hit a construction barge near the bridge site.