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A longtime chef at Nobu Malibu in California was killed when a teenage driver crashed into his parked car as he was sleeping.
Ryo Uchimiya, 51, was a sushi chef who had worked at the famous Japanese restaurant for 25 years, according to KTLA.
Uchimiya parked along the curb and was napping in his car before starting his shift on Saturday morning when a 16-year-old boy plowed his Range Rover into the rear of his the chef’s parked sedan at around 6:50 a.m.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said the teenager appeared to be speeding when he slammed his SUV into Uchimiya, according to KTLA. Investigators said there was no indication that the teenager was driving under the influence.
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It remains unclear whether the teenager will face any charges as the incident remains under investigation.
Uchimiya died from “multiple blunt force injuries,” according to the Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office, the New York Post reported. 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 in front of him.
A witness told KTLA that the teenage driver appeared to be shocked and confused after the collision.
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“I heard throughout the day that maybe he didn’t even have a license,” she said. “He’s a young kid. He looked very young and very confused and his parents didn’t even show up to find him. He was sitting there for two hours by himself.”
People who work and live near the restaurant said the stretch of Pacific Coast Highway where the deadly crash took place has a reputation for being dangerous, as drivers are constantly seen speeding, according to the outlet.
The Malibu City Council declared a local emergency in November 2023 over dangerous conditions on PCH, weeks after a speeding driver struck and killed four Pepperdine University students along the highway.
Uchimiya’s loved ones and coworkers remembered him as a beloved husband, father of two children and talented chef, according to KTLA.
The manager of Nobu Malibu said the “family of staffers” at the restaurant are doing what they can to support Uchimiya’s family during this difficult time.
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“Obviously, it’s been a very, very difficult day for so many people,” the manager told the outlet.
“He was a real nice guy, very talented chef,” a fellow Nobu chef told the New York Post. “It’s such a shame.”
“He was resting, getting ready for a catering gig,” the chef added. “We all get here really early.”
A Nobu hostess told the outlet that staff members were still processing the loss.
“We’re not ready to talk about it now,” she said. “We all need time.”
