A 51-year-old chef, identified as Ryo Uchimiya, has been killed after a 16-year-old driver crashed a Range Rover into his parked vehicle along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California.
The fatal crash occurred at about 6:50 a.m. on Saturday while Uchimiya was reportedly sleeping inside his vehicle as he waited for his shift to begin at a local restaurant.
According to authorities, the teenage driver was behind the wheel of a Range Rover when the vehicle crashed into Uchimiya’s parked car. The impact left the chef critically injured, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Uchimiya had reportedly worked at a Californian restaurant for about 25 years, making the tragedy particularly devastating for those who knew him and worked alongside him.
Police said the 16-year-old driver remained at the scene following the collision. Authorities also reported that there were no initial signs that the teenager was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the crash.
The circumstances that led to the Range Rover leaving the roadway and striking Uchimiya’s parked vehicle remain under investigation. Authorities have not yet publicly established what caused the teenager to lose control of the vehicle.
The chef’s death has drawn attention to the dangers faced by people who stop or rest along busy highways, particularly in areas such as Malibu where Pacific Coast Highway carries significant traffic.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing, and authorities are expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the collision as they continue gathering evidence.
Credit: CBS News
