Nobu chef killed after driver crashes into his car while he was taking nap

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A Nobu chef has died after a car crashed into his parked vehicle while he was taking a nap before work.

Ryo Uchimiya had arrived early for his shift at the high-end restaurant Nobu Malibu Saturday morning, ​LASD Sergeant John Addington told The Los Angeles Times. He was parked up on a stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway near the restaurant when the collision happened.

Surveillance footage obtained by KTLA 5 shows a grey Range Rover SUV slam into the back of a stationary car at around 6 a.m. The force of the impact then pushes the struck car into another parked vehicle that is knocked up onto two wheels.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the 51 year-old sushi chef was pronounced dead at the scene , minutes from his workplace.

​Addington toldThe Times the driver is 16 years-old and that it appears he was speeding at the time of the crash. The Sheriffs department told NBC Los Angeles the unnamed driver remained at the scene and cooperated with the authorities. An investigation into the cause of the crash is now underway.

One of the victim’s colleagues told The California Post the married father-of-two was “a real nice guy, very talented chef.”

​The manager of Nobu Malibu told KTLA 5 the restaurant is supporting Uchimiya’s family. He had worked at the restaurant for 25 years.

​“Obviously, it’s been a very, very difficult day for so many people,” the manager added. ​The Independent contacted Nobu for comment.

A memorial to Uchimiya has been established near the crash site, with well-wishers leaving origami cranes and flowers in a tribute to the chef.

A witness described the driver as “a young kid”. “He looked very young and very confused, and his parents didn’t even show up to find him,” she told KTLA 5.

Locals also told the news outlet that the stretch of road was “extremely dangerous” because of speeding, and called on authorities to do more to enforce limits.

Nobu was co-founded by chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, who ran a restaurant named Matsuhisa in Los Angeles and was encouraged to expand by Hollywood icon and fellow co-founder Robert De Niro. Film producer Meir Teper also served as a co-founder.

​It has become a magnet for celebrities, with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Kylie Jenner among the big name diners.