Driver accused of DUI pleads guilty

LAKEWOOD, Colo. — The driver accused of causing a deadly crash in June has entered a guilty plea.

Ilya Slavin, 37, plead guilty to vehicular homicide, vehicular assault and cruelty to animals, according to the 1st Judicial District Attorney’s Office. The remaining counts in the case were dismissed.

On June 5, just before 6 a.m., Slavin was involved in a crash that killed 65-year-old Beth Bargas and injured the passenger in her car on Colfax Avenue near Garrison Street, according to Lakewood Police. The passenger in Bargas’ car was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Slavin was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, police said. 

According to the affidavit, police estimate he was going about 73 mph when the crash happened — more than double the posted speed limit of 35 mph. After the crash, Slavin’s truck rolled into a nearby shopping center and hit another car, the affidavit says.

Slavin is currently out on bond, according to the district attorney’s office. He is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 13.