Owner of popular Blackfoot Chinese restaurant dies after car slams into home
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BLACKFOOT — The owner of a well-known Chinese restaurant died after his home caught fire when a car slammed into it Tuesday night.
William K. Hong, owner of Hong’s Chinese Take-Out on West Judicial, was inside his house on Parkway Drive and Lilac Street when the crash happened, according a family member.
The 92-year-old moved to Blackfoot and opened Cathay Cafe in 1952, according to the Hong’s Chinese Facebook page.
“Nearly everyone born and raised here in Blackfoot has at least one or more relatives that worked in his restaurant and all of us have very fond memories of dining at the “CATHAY CAFE,” the page reads.
Hong ran the restaurant with his wife and patrons are mourning the loss of the popular owner.
“BILL HONG, THE GREATEST MAN OF MY LIFE!!! RIP MY DEAREST, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MORE THAN JUST A MEMORY!!!! I LOVE YOU TO THE END!!!!” one person wrote early Wednesday morning.
The events leading up to the crash
The following is a news release from the Blackfoot Police Department.
At about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Blackfoot Police Department, Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, and Blackfoot Fire Department responded to an incident where a vehicle crashed through the garage of a residence at the intersection of Parkway Dr. and Lilac St. in Blackfoot.
When officers arrived on scene there was a large fire that had been ignited from the vehicle crashing through the garage. Officers discovered the driver of the vehicle involved in the crash had left the scene and began searching for the driver. The driver of the vehicle, Dillon Grant Gibson, 30, of Blackfoot, was arrested a short time later.
The residence was occupied at the time of the crash. Hong, the only occupant was transported to Bingham Memorial Hospital for medical treatment. Doctors at BMH later declared Mr. Hong
deceased.
The investigation is ongoing at this time.
Dillion Gibson is currently incarcerated in the Bingham County jail and charged with vehicular manslaughter, aggravated DUI, and leaving the scene of an accident—all of which are felony charges.
Gibson is held without bond as of Wednesday morning and will make his first court appearance this afternoon.