Nobu Malibu Chef Killed in Crash While Sleeping in Parked Car
A speeding SUV struck and killed a Nobu Malibu chef who was asleep in his parked car on Pacific Coast Highway, with new video capturing the collision.
A 51-year-old chef at the renowned Nobu Malibu was killed early Saturday morning when a speeding SUV crashed into his parked car on Pacific Coast Highway. The incident, captured on new surveillance video, shows the SUV veering off the road and striking the vehicle where chef Ryo Uchimiya was asleep.
The violent collision occurred around 7 a.m. near Carbon Canyon Road, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The force of the impact sent Uchimiya's car into another vehicle, which then collided with a third, creating a chaotic scene. Uchimiya was found deceased in the back seat of his car.
Sources told The California Post that Uchimiya had arrived early for a catering job in Santa Monica and had fallen asleep in his car. He had worked the previous night at the Nobu Malibu restaurant.
The SUV was reportedly driven by a 16-year-old boy who was traveling eastbound on PCH at a high speed. The vehicle is said to have crossed the road's fog line before striking Uchimiya's parked car. Reports indicate the teenager was traveling at least 50 mph at the time of the swerve.
Nobu Malibu was closed on Saturday as employees mourned the loss of Uchimiya, who had been a long-time member of the restaurant's staff. Notes and flowers were placed outside the restaurant in his memory.
As of Sunday morning, no arrests had been made, and the investigation was ongoing. The California Highway Patrol issued a Sigalert shortly after the crash, closing lanes on PCH for an unspecified duration.
The incident marks another tragedy for California's culinary community, following the death of chef Rainer Schwarz in April. For the Nobu Malibu team, Uchimiya's death is a particularly profound loss, given his years of contribution to the restaurant's operations.