Longtime Nobu chef killed in crash after teen driver slams into him in Malibu

Key Points:

• Ryo Uchimiya, a 51-year-old sushi chef at Nobu Malibu for 25 years, was killed when a 16-year-old driver in an SUV crashed into his parked car on Pacific Coast Highway early Saturday morning.
• The teenager, reportedly speeding, caused a chain-reaction crash by hitting Uchimiya’s car, which then pushed into two other vehicles; surveillance footage captured the incident.
• Witnesses described the teen as stunned and confused after the crash, with reports suggesting he may not have had a driver’s license and was left alone for hours without parental support.
• The stretch of Pacific Coast Highway where the crash occurred is known for dangerous speeding, prompting a local emergency declaration in 2023 after a previous fatal crash involving Pepperdine University students.
• Authorities found no signs of the teenager driving under the influence, but the investigation is ongoing and it is unclear if charges will be filed; meanwhile, Uchimiya’s family and coworkers are mourning his loss.