A longtime chef at Nobu Malibu in California was killed in a car accident on Saturday morning. Ryo Uchimiya, 51, had worked at the restaurant for 25 years and was a sushi chef. He was sleeping in his parked car along the curb before starting his shift when a 16-year-old boy crashed into the rear of his sedan with a Range Rover.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said the teenager appeared to be speeding at the time of the collision, which occurred at around 6:50 a.m. Investigators stated that there was no indication the teenager was driving under the influence. The incident remains under investigation, and it is unclear whether the teenager will face any charges.
Uchimiya died from "multiple blunt force injuries," according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner's office. The medical examiner also ruled the manner of death an accident. Surveillance footage showed the driver's SUV slamming into Uchimiya's parked car, causing a chain-reaction crash that pushed the sedan into two other vehicles.
Witnesses described the teenage driver as shocked and confused after the collision, and a local resident noted that the stretch of Pacific Coast Highway where the accident occurred has a reputation for being dangerous due to speeding drivers. The Malibu City Council had declared a local emergency in November 2023 over the hazardous conditions on PCH, following a separate incident in which a speeding driver struck and killed four Pepperdine University students.
Uchimiya's loved ones and coworkers remembered him as a beloved husband, father of two children, and talented chef. The manager of Nobu Malibu said the restaurant's staff are doing what they can to support Uchimiya's family during this difficult time.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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