The chef, who was a married father of two, had arrived early for a catering job in Santa Monica and fallen asleep in his vehicle after working the restaurant the night before, sources told The California Post via the New York Post. The crash occurred around 6:50 a.m., and Uchimiya was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department says the 16-year-old has not been charged, and an investigation into the deadly collision is underway; The Daily Beast and Canyon News both report authorities do not believe the teen was under the influence. A witness told KTLA 5 that the boy appeared stunned and confused, saying his parents did not come for him and he sat alone for two hours; the witness also relayed hearing he may not even have had a license. As of Sunday morning, the New York Post reported no updates on the investigation or word of any arrests.

Neighbors and workers told outlets the crash fits a familiar pattern. People living and working near Nobu said motorists routinely speed along that stretch of Pacific Coast Highway, according to Canyon News. Former Malibu mayor Jefferson 'Zuma Jay' Wagner, who owns a surf shop across the street, told The California Post via the Daily Mail, 'I'm right across the street from Nobu. I see it all the time,' describing drivers hitting cyclists and car doors.

Colleagues remembered Uchimiya as kind and talented, with a fellow chef telling the New York Post, 'He was a real nice guy, a very talented chef. It's such a shame.' The restaurant's manager called it a 'very, very difficult day for so many people' and said the close-knit staff is rallying around Uchimiya's wife and two sons, per KTLA. The tragedy follows another loss for California's restaurant industry: the New York Post notes Laguna Beach chef and restaurant owner Rainer Schwarz, 59, was killed in a Dana Point crash in April. The sheriff's investigation remains open, with no charges announced.