Charges in PCH Nobu chef death await mechanical tests
A 16-year-old was driving the three-ton SUV that killed sleeping chef Ryo Uchimiya; a decision is weeks or months away.
By Hans Laetz
Mechanical tests on the giant SUV that struck and killed a Nobu chef on PCH are still being performed, and until those tests come back it is not clear if any charges will be filed against the 16-year-old boy who was driving.
Ryo Uchimiya, 51, a Nobu chef, had been asleep in a sedan parked on the side of PCH, waiting for his shift to begin. The detective says he is waiting for the mechanical tests before deciding whether to move ahead with charges.
The 16-year-old driver of his family's SUV is not believed to have been intoxicated at the time of the crash. It is possible the car malfunctioned or the driver fell asleep. The teenager has not been publicly named because of his age.
Deputies do believe he was speeding in the three-ton SUV when it drifted into the parking lane. A determination on charges is likely several weeks or months away.