The RCMP's homicide team is investigating whether a crash that killed two women inside a Maple Ridge sushi restaurant Thursday was intentional.

The women, aged 19 and 46, died after a blue Dodge truck plowed into Halu Sushi during the dinner rush around 6 p.m.

Candice Denoni had just stepped outside of the Heads Up hair salon at the mall when she saw the blue pick-up truck speeding towards the restaurant 20 metres away.

"There was one empty parking space in front of the restaurant and he just sped right through it," she said.

"He was going full speed, no brakes at all."

The truck travelled through the front window of the restaurant in Westgate Centre and scattered diners as it smashed into tables and chairs.

Six diners were pinned under the truck. Three, including nine-year-old Joel Corbin and his 17-year-old sister Juanita, remain in hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

Joel Corbin was scheduled to have surgery Friday to relieve pressure on his brain but the family reports that the bleeding and swelling has subsided. His sister has a broken hand, nose and cheekbones

The others were treated by paramedics at the scene and released.

The driver of the truck, a 51-year-old Maple Ridge man, was arrested at the scene. He was not related to anyone in the restaurant, police said.

However, Cpl. Dale Carr, with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, said there are indications that the crash may have been an "intentional act.

"We are going to carry on and treat this as a homicide investigation until we learn otherwise."

Investigators spoke to dozen of witnesses who were at the mall Thursday night and questioned the driver of the truck, who remained in custody at the Maple Ridge detachment on Friday.

Carr said investigators are trying to find a motive.

"That's the million dollar question. That is what we are trying to get to the bottom of. We are looking at any and all possibilities," Carr added.

Police are investigating whether alcohol, drugs, a medical condition or mechanical failure contributed to the crash.

The Dodge truck has been seized by police.

Carr did not know if the man will be held in custody over the weekend or if charges will be forward to Crown.

"It depends on how the investigation goes today," he said Friday morning.

"We have a three-quarters of a day before we have to make a decision surrounding his release. It depends on what we learn and what kind of culpability we can place on him."

Maple Ridge Mayor Gordy Robson said council is saddened by the tragic and unfortunate incident. “We want to send our condolences to the families who have experienced loss and hope those who were injured will have a full recovery."

He also said council wishes to acknowledge the quick actions of those citizens who were present and who came to the aid of those affected by the crash, as well as the efforts of all of the emergency services who attended the scene.

In July 2006, a woman who worked at Quiznos at the same mall died two weeks after being hit by a mini-van that drove into the sandwich shop.

The woman was run over by the mini-van while she was sitting outside Quiznos Sub shop having cigarette.

The man charged in her death had parked the van in front of the shop, but put the vehicle into drive by mistake.

– with files by Robert Mangelsdorf