Truck crashes into Canadian sushi joint, kills 2

MAPLE RIDGE, British Columbia

Friday, 29 August 2008 16:43:10

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A pickup truck crashed through the front window of a busy sushi restaurant in Canada, killing two women and injuring six, police said Friday.

The blue mid-size truck slammed through the Halu Sushi restaurant in Maple Ridge, British Columbia on Thursday night, scattering people as it crashed into tables and chairs, witnesses said.

The 51-year-old driver was in police custody, but no charges have been filed. Cpl. Dale L. Carr said investigators were looking into whether it was an intentional act.

Candice Denoni, who saw the truck speed into the sushi restaurant, said the driver appeared to make no effort to slow down.

"It looked like it was purposeful. It was going very fast. I don't know if he (the driver) fell asleep, but there were no brakes," she said.

Denoni said people came running out of the mall's stores following the crash, and some restaurant patrons were on the ground screaming and crying.

Other witnesses said as many as 45 people were in the restaurant at the time of the accident.

Three people were taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, while three others suffered minor injuries, Carr said. The victims, whose names have not been released, were aged 19 and 46.