Pacific Coast Highway near Nobu Malibu: a Range Rover driven by a 16-year-old struck a parked car, killing the chef who was resting inside before his shift
MALIBU, CALIFORNIA (October 3, 2026): Ryo Uchimiya, 51, a longtime sushi chef at Nobu Malibu, was killed early Saturday, October 3, when a Range Rover driven by a 16-year-old boy struck his parked car on Pacific Coast Highway, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, as reported by CBS Los Angeles and KTLA. The Malibu crash happened at about 6:53 a.m. near the 22600 block of PCH, about a block from the restaurant where Uchimiya worked.
Deputies said the teen was driving a gray Range Rover eastbound on PCH when it hit a vehicle parked on the eastbound shoulder. Uchimiya, the only person in the parked car, was pronounced dead at the scene. KTLA reported that he had arrived early for work and was resting in his car before his shift. Sheriff’s investigators told KTLA the teen appeared to be speeding, and surveillance video showed the impact pushing Uchimiya’s car into two other vehicles parked in front of it.
The Sheriff’s Department said drugs or alcohol did not appear to be factors. Deputies first told CBS Los Angeles that the teen had been arrested, but later said he was never taken into custody. He has not been identified, and authorities have not said whether he held a valid driver’s license or whether he will face charges. The crash remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Lost Hills/Malibu Station.
Uchimiya had worked at Nobu Malibu for 25 years and was a husband and father of two, KTLA reported. People who live and work nearby told the station that this stretch of PCH is known for speeding; the City of Malibu declared a local emergency over speeding on the highway in 2023. Anyone who saw the crash or has video from that stretch can contact the Lost Hills/Malibu Station.
Liability for the Malibu PCH Crash
California Vehicle Code § 22350, the basic speed law, prohibits driving faster than is safe for conditions, and Civil Code § 1714 makes every driver responsible for harm caused by a lack of ordinary care. Because the driver was a minor, other provisions often come into play: Vehicle Code § 17707 generally makes the adult who signed a minor’s license application jointly liable for the minor’s negligent driving, Vehicle Code § 17708 can apply to a parent who allowed a minor to drive, and Vehicle Code § 17150 can make a vehicle’s owner liable when it was driven with permission. Based on what has been reported, the questions include:
- Speed on PCH: Investigators said the teen appeared to be speeding. Data stored in the Range Rover and the surveillance video can show how fast it was traveling when it left the lane.
- Leaving the travel lanes: Uchimiya’s car was stopped on the shoulder, outside the lanes of traffic. A vehicle that drifts onto the shoulder and strikes a parked car is a central fact in any civil claim.
- Who signed and who owns: Whether the teen was licensed, who signed his license application and who owns the Range Rover can determine which adults and insurance policies are responsible.
- The chain reaction: The impact pushed Uchimiya’s car into two other parked vehicles. The owners of those vehicles may have separate property damage claims.
Uchimiya’s wife and children may bring a wrongful death claim under Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60. That civil claim is separate from any juvenile or criminal case, and it does not depend on whether charges are ever filed. Claims involving a minor driver are often handled through the auto insurance of the vehicle’s owner and the minor’s household.
Steps to Take After a Malibu PCH Crash
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding has been a factor in close to a third of U.S. traffic deaths in recent years, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that drivers ages 16 to 19 have a higher crash risk than any other age group. When a crash involves both, acting early helps the family.
- Request the report: Ask the Lost Hills/Malibu Station for the traffic collision report and case number. Some information about juveniles may be restricted, so ask what can be released and when.
- Preserve video: Businesses along PCH may have cameras that recorded the crash. Send written requests quickly, because many systems overwrite footage within days.
- Identify all insurance: Gather information on the Range Rover’s policy, any policy covering the teen’s household and the family’s own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
- Keep records: Save funeral records, employment information and any messages from insurers. Avoid recorded statements or signed releases before getting advice.
Wrongful death claims in California generally must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. If the design or maintenance of the highway is examined and a public agency is involved, a government claim is generally due within six months under Government Code § 911.2. Contact an attorney promptly to protect your rights.
Investigating the Malibu PCH Crash
We at Carrazco Law, A.P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends and coworkers of Ryo Uchimiya. Important questions remain: How fast was the Range Rover traveling when it left the eastbound lanes and struck a car parked on the shoulder? And who allowed a 16-year-old to drive the SUV that morning, and under what license, if any?
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car, truck or pedestrian accident anywhere in California, our personal injury attorneys can help you understand your rights and legal options. Call us anytime at (800) 541-3244. Se Habla Español. Free consultation.
Published on October 5, 2026 by M.M., Carrazco Law, A.P.C. The incident described in this article occurred on October 3, 2026.
