BREAKING: Large Explosion on Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, New York

This is breaking news. We will update as more information is released.

UPDATE 2:48pm: CNN's John Miller Reports that the car seems to have exploded after jumping a barrier and crashing. He says the vehicle was spotted on a local road on the US side of the bridge. The vehicle allegedly sped up to a high rate of speed, jumped a barrier, and crashed causing the explosion.

UPDATE 2:35pm: CNN reports 2 men in the car that exploded have died. More CLICK HERE.

UPDATE 2:30pm: ABC News reports there are fatalities from the explosion on the Rainbow Bridge as well as suspicious briedfcase.

Investigators have found some sort of suitcase or briefcase on scene, sources told ABC News. They are treating it as a possible explosive device as a precaution and the bomb squad is handling the package.

UPDATE 2:06pm: CNN's John Miller Reports that the car was sent to a second checkpoint to be searched after initially reporting to the first checkpoint. Miller says his sources say that's when the car sped up, went airborn, and crashed into the US checkpoint area and an explosion happened. This is according to CNN's live news coverage.

An explosion happened on the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls this afternoon on the eve of Thanksgiving in the United States. All bridges connecting the US and Canada in the Western New York Region have been shut down. New York Governor Kathy Hochul is on her way to Buffalo and has released the following statement:

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz gave this update regarding border crossing in the WNY area.

Eyewitness pictures and videos appear to show a large explosion at the American side of the border crossing between the US and Canada. Pictures taken at the scene show heavy damage to the US checkpoint. We have no word at this time of injuries or casualties. We also do not know if this is an attack or some other kind of incident. Witnesses say a vehicle appears to have exploded. According to the Niagara Gazette, a witness said,

Traveling down Niagara Street, the car reportedly sped the wrong into the inspection booths, where the explosion occurred.

More info from the Niagara Gazette, CLICK HERE.

Expect delays at the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport as a result of the incident.

There are several photos from the scene. Please see the pictures below:

The Rainbow Bridge connects the US and Canada over the Niagara Falls Gorge. Both Niagara Falls, NY, and Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada are on each end of the bridge.

Erie County Executive Mark Polocarz says several government buildings have been shut down out of an abundance of caution.