A 51-year-old Nobu Malibu employee was killed Saturday morning after a Range Rover crashed into his parked vehicle along Pacific Coast Highway, with newly released surveillance footage showing the moments before the collision.
Ryo Uchimiya had arrived early for work and was sitting in his parked car near the restaurant when the crash happened shortly before 7 a.m., according to authorities. The Range Rover struck his vehicle and two others.
Video from a nearby surf shop appears to show the Range Rover moving from the right lane toward the shoulder just before the collision.
Uchimiya’s death has left a memorial of origami cranes and other tributes near the crash site. Former Malibu Mayor Jefferson Wagner, who visited the memorial, said Uchimiya would arrive early and sometimes rest in his car before beginning his shift.
The Range Rover was being driven by a 16-year-old boy, authorities said. He survived the crash and did not appear to be under the influence. Authorities have not announced whether charges will be filed, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The crash has once again focused attention on the safety of Pacific Coast Highway, a stretch of road that has seen repeated deadly collisions over the years.
Malibu officials say more than 60 people have died in traffic collisions along the city’s 21-mile section of PCH since 2010. In 2023 alone, the city recorded 220 reported crashes that resulted in 93 injuries and seven deaths.
The issue became especially urgent after four Pepperdine University students were killed in a 2023 crash. That collision led to additional efforts involving the city, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol and Caltrans to improve safety along the highway.
One of the biggest changes now underway is Malibu’s automated speed-enforcement program. The system uses lidar and cameras to identify vehicles traveling at least 11 mph above the posted speed limit.
The program was originally expected to enter its warning phase in late September, but the city has since pushed that start to November. The change gives officials additional time to make installation adjustments and complete a traffic study in Eastern Malibu.
During the current testing period, the cameras are collecting information but are not issuing warnings or citations. Between September 16 and September 24, preliminary testing across four camera locations recorded approximately 100,000 speeding violations, with about 86% occurring in Eastern Malibu, according to the city.
When the warning period begins, drivers exceeding the enforcement threshold will initially receive warnings rather than civil penalties. After the 60-day warning period, qualifying violations are expected to result in civil penalties. The city says those citations will not add points to a driver’s license or affect insurance rates.
For people who live, work or travel along PCH, the latest crash is another reminder of the risks on the highway. While the investigation into the collision continues, local officials and residents are continuing to push for slower speeds and safer driving along one of Malibu’s most heavily traveled roads.
