Family of biker killed in the Myrtle Beach restaurant owner felony DUI case speaks out

Last Saturday night, Myrtle Beach police responded to an accident involving a motorcycle and a vehicle at the intersection of Kings Highway and Wild Wood Dunes Trail.

When emergency crews arrived on the scene, they found a bike and two victims on the ground, but the vehicle involved was nowhere around.

In the crash, 44-year-old Angelo Gonzalez of Boardman, Ohio died and medics took his girlfriend, Suzie Reader to a local hospital with serious injuries.

Officers said 56-year-old Michael Hilton tried to make a left turn onto Wild Wood Dunes Trail and turned in front of Gonzalez’s bike.

Gonzalez’s bike slammed into the side of Hilton’s 2008 Ford truck, but Hilton left the scene and headed home, according to police.

Hilton walked back to the scene and never told investigators he was involved in the accident until a witness pointed him out, according to the incident report.

Hilton told officers he left a party and admitted to having only “2 to 3 drinks,” according to the report.

According to the police report, officers read Hilton his rights and had him perform several field sobriety tests, which he failed before officers performed a DataMaster examination on him.

The report states Hilton’s blood alcohol level registered 0.15, nearly two times the legal limit.

Myrtle Beach police charged Hilton with two counts of felony driving under the influence and failure to yield the right of way.

Amanda Gonzalez said her dad’s passion was his family, and riding his bike, “He was a very caring and loving man. He was a good guy and I can’t even describe to you the best grandfather any kid could have,” Gonzalez told News13.

Gonzalez said she talked to her father for the final time when he got into Myrtle Beach for Bike Week, “I said all right dad, you be careful, he said Amanda you be careful I love you. I’ll call you in a couple of days and that was the last time I talked to my dad.”

Gonzalez said she can’t understand why he dad had to go like he did, “I didn’t want to lose my faith in God, but all I kept saying was God, why are you doing this to me? Why my dad? Why now? Why when I can’t hold his hand?”

News13 learned this week that Saturday’s incident wasn’t the first time Michael Hilton was involved in a deadly accident.

In April 1991, Hilton hit a University of Georgia senior, Keith Linden, Jr on Highway 17 near restaurant row.

Authorities never charged Hilton in the 1991 accident.

Linden and another man tried to walk across Highway 17 when Linden stepped out in front of Hilton’s SUV, killing the 21 year old student.

Linden had a blood alcohol content of 0.19, according to Nancy Linden, Keith’s mother.

Authorities ruled the incident accidental and closed the case, despite that fact that the Lindens suspected Hilton was drinking at the time of the crash.

The Highway Patrol never investigated Hilton, nor charged him with any crime in connection to the 1991 incident.

Hilton wrote the Linden’s a letter days following the accident, apologizing for the accident.

Hilton wrote, “If I could have done anything to prevent it would have. This is truly the worst thing that has ever happened. Please know and accept our sympathies and constant prayers. If there is anything I can do, please let me know.”

Nancy Linden sued the Hiltons and won a $25,000 lawsuit in 1994.

Michael Hilton remains free on bond, no word yet on a court date.

You can count on News13 to continue to follow this story as details come available.