Teen Driver's Crash on PCH Kills Nobu Malibu Chef; SUV Linked to Hollywood Composer

Key points

• Ryo Uchimiya, a 51-year-old chef with 25 years of experience at Nobu Malibu, died from blunt-force injuries after a 16-year-old driver struck his parked vehicle on Pacific Coast Highway near Carbon Canyon Road at approximately 6:50 a.m. on Saturday.
• The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department stated the teen driver appeared to be speeding but was not intoxicated; the driver remained at the scene and cooperated with police, but no charges have been filed as the investigation continues.
• The vehicle involved was a 2026 Land Rover Range Rover leased by Hollywood film composer Harry Gregson-Williams, who stated his family is grieving alongside the victim's family; it remains unclear why the teen was driving the vehicle.
• Uchimiya had arrived early for his shift and was sleeping in his car when the crash occurred, which triggered a chain-reaction collision involving multiple parked vehicles; the Los Angeles County medical examiner ruled the death an accident.
• The 21-mile stretch of Pacific Coast Highway through Malibu averages four crash-related fatalities per year, with recent safety concerns heightened by construction zones following the 2025 wildfires.

Background

This incident follows a pattern of fatal crashes on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, including a 2023 incident where a driver struck parked cars, killing four Pepperdine University students. The area has seen increased safety scrutiny due to high fatality rates and recent wildfire-related construction zones.

How outlets are covering it

The Los Angeles Times and The Guardian emphasized the teen driver's apparent speeding and the lack of intoxication, while The New York Post highlighted the vehicle's connection to Hollywood composer Harry Gregson-Williams. All sources agreed on the victim's identity, the time of the crash, and the ongoing investigation, but differed in focus: The LA Times and Guardian stressed the road's danger, while The NY Post focused on the vehicle owner's identity and the teen's lack of public identification due to age.

Why it matters

The death of a long-serving chef on a notoriously dangerous stretch of road underscores ongoing safety concerns on Pacific Coast Highway and raises questions about vehicle access for minors, particularly when linked to high-profile individuals.

What to watch

The investigation into the 16-year-old driver will continue, with potential charges pending further review; authorities have not yet determined the teen's relationship to the vehicle's owner, Harry Gregson-Williams.