A train car is pictured in an aerial photo inside the New Jersey Transit Hoboken Terminal following a train crash in Hoboken, New Jersey, US September 29, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

HOBOKEN, N.J. - A commuter train plowed into a station in New Jersey at the height of Thursday's morning rush hour, killing a woman on the platform and injuring more than 100 people as it brought down part of the roof and scattered debris over the concourse.

Witnesses described terrifying scenes as the front of the train smashed through the track stop at high speed and into the Hoboken terminal, toppling support columns and creating chaos at one of the busiest transit hubs in the New York City area.

"We have no indication that this is anything other than a tragic accident but ... we're going to let the law enforcement professionals pursue the facts," New Jersey Governor Christie said at a news conference in Hoboken alongside New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Train #1614 originated in the town of Spring Valley in New York state and was at the end of its hour-long journey when it crashed.

The train's engineer, or driver, was injured and taken to a hospital but later released, officials said, without providing details of his injuries.

Local media identified the engineer as Thomas Gallagher, citing unnamed sources, and said he was cooperating with investigators.

U.S. National Transportation Safety Board vice chairman Bella Dinh-Zarr told a separate news conference in Hoboken that investigators would retrieve the event recorder, which tracks speed, braking and other data, from the rear of the train on Thursday night.

She said the train was operating in a "push-pull configuration" in which locomotive-hauled trains can be driven from either end. The train had an engine that was pushing four cars including the controlling, or cab, car in front, officials said.