GRANITEVILLE, S.C. - At least four people died and more than 200 were treated for injuries after two trains crashed here Thursday morning, derailing 16 cars and spilling a hazardous chemical gas, Aiken County officials said.

Sheriff's Lt. Michael Frank said one person was found dead in their home and another was found in a vehicle. Norfolk Southern spokesman Robin Chapman confirmed that a third person, a train engineer, was among the dead. No information was released on the fourth fatality. Causes of death were unknown.

Gov. Mark Sanford said after touring the area from the air that he saw a human body near the site, but it was unclear whether that was one of the four reported dead or an additional fatality.

The injured were taken to area hospitals and most were treated for respiratory ailments and released, hospital spokeswomen said. At least 45 people were admitted; eight of those were in critical condition Thursday night.

The accident happened about 2:30 a.m. in this textile town near the Georgia state line. A Norfolk Southern freight train with three locomotives and 42 rail cars struck a locomotive with two parked rail cars, Chapman said.