Investigators are waiting for the results of mechanical and engineering tests before determining whether to file charges against a teenage driver accused of killing renowned Malibu chef Ryo Uchimiya while behind the wheel of a luxury SUV leased to Hollywood composer Harry Gregson-Williams, a law enforcement source said.
Uchimiya, 51, a chef at Nobu Malibu, was sleeping in a parked car along Pacific Coast Highway on the morning of Oct. 4 when a 2026 Range Rover driven by a 16-year-old boy veered onto the shoulder and slammed into the stationary vehicle. The chef was killed instantly.
Authorities said the teenager, who has been identified by police but not publicly named because he is a minor, was speeding in the Range Rover leased to Gregson-Williams, one of Hollywood’s best-known film composers.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Detective Scott Shean told the California Post that investigators are awaiting the results of engineering and mechanical examinations before deciding whether to pursue criminal charges. Authorities do not believe the teen was intoxicated when the crash occurred.
“We have to wait for a certain couple things to come back to me that I’ve been sent out as far as getting investigated,” Shean said. “Once I get that information back, then I can go forward with whether or not I’m able to press charges and file with the DA’s office.”
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Uchimiya was found dead in the backseat of his vehicle after the collision, which happened at about 7 a.m. near Carbon Canyon Road.
Sources familiar with the circumstances said the chef had arrived early for work and fallen asleep in his car while preparing for a catering assignment in Santa Monica.
Disturbing video appears to show Gregson-Williams’ SUV traveling at high speed along PCH before crossing the road’s fog line and striking Uchimiya’s car. The force of the impact pushed the chef’s vehicle into another car, leaving all three vehicles involved in the crash.
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“This family is grieving just as the other family,” Gregson-Williams said during a brief call with the California Post. It is still unclear how the teenage driver is connected to the composer or why he was using the vehicle.
Gregson-Williams, 64, is among Hollywood’s most prolific film composers. The British-born musician moved to Los Angeles in the 1990s and has spent decades composing scores for major blockbuster films.
His credits include the “Shrek” franchise, “The Chronicles of Narnia,” “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” “The Martian,” “Man on Fire,” “Chicken Run” and “Gladiator II.”
Gregson-Williams also composed the score for the 2026 Jacob Elordi film “The Dog Stars.” More recently, he worked with Ben Affleck on “Animals,” a Netflix thriller directed by and starring Affleck.
Uchimiya had spent approximately 25 years working for the renowned Japanese restaurant Nobu when he died.
Authorities said the chef died at the scene from multiple blunt-force injuries. Friends remembered Uchimiya not only as a talented chef, but also as a devoted family man and friend.
Steven Zaw, a friend of Uchimiya’s, said the two families were close and that their children attended the same school.
“He’s an amazing human being, great skier. Taught his kids how to ski. We went on a lot of ski trips together,” Zaw said.
Shean said the investigation into the fatal Malibu crash remains ongoing.