Authorities said a 16-year-old driving a Range Rover struck the victim’s parked car along Pacific Coast Highway early Saturday.
MALIBU, CA — A 51-year-old Nobu Malibu employee was killed early Saturday when a Range Rover driven by a 16-year-old boy struck his parked car on Pacific Coast Highway, authorities said, adding another fatal collision to a roadway that has faced years of safety concerns.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department identified the man as Ryo Uchimiya. Authorities said Uchimiya had arrived early for work and was waiting inside his vehicle near the restaurant when the crash happened at about 6:50 a.m. Oct. 3. His vehicle was parked along the eastbound side of Pacific Coast Highway in the 22600 block when it was struck.
Investigators said the teenager was driving a gray Range Rover eastbound when the SUV hit Uchimiya’s vehicle. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. John Addington told the Los Angeles Times that it appeared the teenager had been speeding. CBS Los Angeles reported that the teen was arrested after the crash. Authorities had not publicly identified him, and his driver’s license status had not been released.
Uchimiya was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. No other injuries were reported. Investigators said alcohol or drugs did not appear to be a factor in the collision, but the cause remained under investigation. Authorities had not announced criminal charges as of the latest reports.
The collision occurred near Nobu Malibu, the oceanfront Japanese restaurant where Uchimiya worked. The restaurant sits along a heavily traveled portion of Pacific Coast Highway. Authorities said Uchimiya had arrived for work before the collision. Additional details about what caused the Range Rover to leave its travel path and strike the parked vehicle had not been released.
The fatal crash comes as Malibu and state officials continue efforts to reduce speeding and serious collisions on Pacific Coast Highway. The city has spent years pursuing additional enforcement, road improvements and automated speed enforcement following a series of deadly crashes. Malibu declared a local emergency in November 2023 over dangerous conditions on the highway after four Pepperdine University students were killed in a crash the previous month.
City officials say the 21-mile stretch of Pacific Coast Highway through Malibu has recorded dozens of traffic deaths since 2011. Malibu has responded with increased enforcement involving the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and California Highway Patrol, along with infrastructure projects and a broader public safety campaign aimed at reducing speeding and reckless driving.
Those measures now include Malibu’s Speed Safety System, which uses lidar and cameras to identify vehicles traveling at least 11 mph over the posted speed limit. The city said a warning period was scheduled to begin in late September 2026, with civil enforcement expected to follow in late November. The program is part of a larger effort to change driving behavior along the coastal highway.
The investigation into Saturday’s collision remains active. Authorities have not announced what charges, if any, the 16-year-old driver could face, and investigators have not released a final determination of the crash’s cause.
Author note: Last updated Oct. 4, 2026.