Family and friends of the Lakewood woman who died in a car accident while driving while under the influence of alcohol miss her

LAKEWOOD, Colorado – Family members are focusing on the good after their loved one was killed by a driver suspected of being under the influence of alcohol.

It happened on June 5 near West Colfax and Garrison Street in Lakewood. According to police, Ilya Slavin was driving twice the speed limit when he ran a red light and collided with the car of 65-year-old Beth Bargas.

“She loved spending time with her great-grandchildren (that was) the highlight of her life,” said Bargas’ son Marvin Latham. “She was always generous. She loved her job and she loved what she did.”

Bargas was a nurse at Harmony Pointe Nursing Center in Lakewood. On the morning of the accident, she was on her way to work. Her colleague Ada Hernandez was with her.

“It’s been an emotional month,” Hernandez said. “Very thankful (to be alive). I don’t think God is done with me.”

Hernandez called Bargas her second mother. They had vacationed together and Bargas often gave her advice. Hernandez suffered several injuries in the accident, but nothing hurts her more than her broken heart. She lost more than her dear friend that day.

“I lost my dog,” she said, beginning to cry. “They take care of each other.”

On Friday, Bargas’ family bonded with colleagues who had worked with her at Harmony Pointe over the past decade.

“She has touched thousands of lives in the course of her career as a nurse, some of whom I probably don’t even know,” Latham said with a laugh.

It was a celebration under the sun for a woman who has cared for so many people, including Sherri Pettit, who knows people like Bargas are not often seen.

“(I’m) grateful for the time we had with her. Absolutely the best nurse at Harmony Pointes,” Pettit explained. “She’s probably in heaven helping other people up here. She’ll be his first nurse for all eternity.”

For Bargas, her work was never just a job; for her bosses, she was never just an employee. On Friday, the nursing home unveiled a fountain dedicated to Bargas, a gesture meant to show how much Bargas was and always will be loved.

“She was very caring and generous, she loved the people here and she loved the people that were in her life,” said her son Latham. “We try to move on and do justice to my mother in every way.”

To help with expenses following Bargas’ death, a GoFundMe campaign was launched.

According to the affidavit, police suspect the driver, Slavin, was under the influence of cocaine. Court documents say he had a long driving history, including 33 license suspensions and 38 convictions.

Thirteen of the 38 convictions were for speeding. Slavin is due back in court on August 28.