A 51-year-old man who worked at the celebrity-favored Nobu restaurant in Malibu died Sunday morning after a teenage driver struck the car he was sitting in along the Pacific Coast Highway, according to authorities.
The victim was identified as Ryo Uchimiya, who had arrived early for his shift and was waiting inside his parked vehicle when a Range Rover slammed into it, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Police said the Range Rover was being driven by a 16-year-old who appeared to be speeding at the time of the collision.
A witness described the young driver as visibly shaken in the aftermath of the crash, telling KTLA that he appeared dazed.
The witness also raised questions about the driver's licensing status, telling KTLA, "I heard throughout the day that maybe he didn't even have a license. He's a young kid. He looked very young and very confused and his parents didn't even show up to find him. He was sitting there for two hours by himself."
Authorities confirmed that the case remains under investigation and that, as of Sunday, no charges had been filed in connection with the fatal collision.
The L.A. Medical Examiner's Office stated that an examination of Uchimiya's body has been scheduled, though no date for that exam was provided.
Uchimiya was 51 years old. The crash occurred on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, a stretch of roadway that has long drawn safety concerns from residents and local officials.