Nobu chef Ryo Uchimiya dies in Malibu crash: Official cause of death released; witness recounts fatal collision

A Nobu sushi chef was killed in a tragic car crash during early hours on Saturday (October 3, 2026). The fatal accident occurred at about 6:50 a.m. local time when the chef, identified as Ryo Uchimiya, was sleeping inside his car parked outside a restaurant located on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. A speeding 16-year-old driver in a Range Rover slammed into the back of his vehicle, multiple news outlets reported, citing the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LACSD).

The 51-year-old chef succumbed to “multiple blunt force injuries,” The New York Post reported, citing the Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office. The medical examiner ruled the manner of death as an accident, according to the outlet. No arrests were made at the time of filing of this report.

Uchimiya was remembered as a kind and talented chef by his coworkers at Nobu. His death sent shockwaves across the restaurant community. “He was a real nice guy, a very talented chef,” a fellow Nobu chef told The Post. “It’s such a shame.”



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According to the chef, Uchimiya was resting in his car before a catering job and was only expected to be there for about 30 minutes. “He was resting, getting ready for a catering gig,” the chef said. “We all get here really early.” The coworker also stated that the circumstances of the crash were particularly tough to comprehend because of the number of cars parked in the area. Uchimiya was a father to two sons.

Neighbor recounts the crash

A neighbor who lives in the building where the acciddent occurred told The Post he heard the impact and immediately got up to see what had happened. According to him, it took about 11 minutes for rescue crews to arrive. He further stated that it took responders several minutes to realize there was a person inside the vehicle. “When I heard them say, ‘There’s someone in here,’” he said, “it took about nine minutes for them to cut into the car and get him out.” The neighbor said he watched as rescuers worked on the victim for several minutes.