Nobu Chef Killed by Teen Driver in Malibu
A 51-year-old chef at the renowned Nobu Malibu was fatally struck while sleeping in his parked car by a speeding teenager.
A longtime chef at Nobu Malibu was killed early Saturday morning when a 16-year-old driver crashed his Range Rover into the chef's parked sedan on Pacific Coast Highway.
Ryo Uchimiya, 51, was napping in his vehicle before his shift when the collision occurred around 6:50 a.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Investigators indicated the teenager was speeding and that there was no evidence of impairment.
The impact pushed Uchimiya's car into two other vehicles. Uchimiya died from multiple blunt force injuries, and the medical examiner ruled his death an accident. It remains unclear if the teenager will face charges as the investigation continues.
Surveillance footage captured the moment the SUV collided with Uchimiya's sedan. A witness told KTLA that the teenage driver appeared shocked and confused following the crash.
The stretch of Pacific Coast Highway where the incident took place has a reputation for dangerous driving conditions. In November 2023, the Malibu City Council declared a local emergency concerning safety on PCH, following the deaths of four Pepperdine University students in a previous speeding-related crash on the highway.
Uchimiya had worked at Nobu Malibu for 25 years and is remembered by colleagues and loved ones as a husband and father of two. The management and staff of Nobu Malibu expressed their support for Uchimiya's family during this difficult time.