An Amtrak train collided with an unmanned freight train in the early hours of today in South Carolina killing two and injuring at least 116 on board the passenger rail.

The Amtrak engineer, Michael Kempf, 54, from Savannah, Ga., and conductor, Michael Cella, 36, from Orange Park, Fla., died as a result of the crash. Both were in the first car of the train.

The impact caused a 5,000 gallons fuel leak to the area surrounding the crash. Authorities say the spill has since been cleaned.

"The first engine of the freight train was torn up, and the single engine of the passenger train is barely recognizable," said South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster of the accident.

Four of the eight freight cars were severely crumpled but remained on the tracks.

Amtrak Train 91 was carrying 136 passengers from New York to Miami when it hit a stationary CSX Corp train parked on a side track at around 2:35 a.m. local time.

“It appears that Amtrak was on the wrong track,” added McMaster.

Early reports show Amtrak train was diverted onto the side track where the CSX locomotive was parked by a rail switch that was supposed to prohibit traffic to the side rail, says Robert Sumwalt, chairman of the U.S. National Transportation Board (NTSB).

"Key to this investigation is learning why the switch was lined that way," says the governor.

According to Amtrak President Richard Anderson, the switch system that diverted Train 91 was “down” and CSX was operating it manually when the accident happened.

Anderson added the company is awaiting NTSB investigations to determine the cause of the crash, saying this accident is another reason why the U.S. needs to install GPS-based technology to direct train traffic.

Two of the 116 injured are in critical condition in a nearby hospital and around 62 patients had already been treated and discharged with minor injuries throughout the day.

Amtrak officials said they are "deeply saddened" by the deaths.

U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted of the major train accident, "My thoughts and prayers are with all of the victims involved in this mornings train collision in South Carolina." He added, "Thank you to our incredible First Responders for the work they've done!"

CSX Freight also sent its condolences via its official Twitter account, “Our sincere condolences go out to the families of the two individuals who passed away following the tragic events that took place in Cayce, SC this morning.”

This is the third deadly Amtrak accident in a matter of weeks. In December, three people were killed when an Amtrak passenger train derailed near Seattle, WA., and last month a train collided with a garbage truck in Virginia killing one person inside the vehicle.