Tara Slamon, 29, was a well-known bartender at Peters Place in Trenton and is remembered by her family for her infections smile and magnetic personality.
HAMILTON -- The Hamilton woman who died following a Christmas night crash in Pennsylvania had just left an annual family party at her aunt and uncle's restaurant.
Tara Slamon, 29, was a well-known bartender at Peters Place in Trenton and is remembered by her family for her infectious smile and magnetic personality.
"She was a great person. Always had a smile on her face, even after dealing with a lot of hard things," said cousin Leigh Pietz, of Bridgewater.
Pietz said his extended family gathers ever year for a Christmas party at their aunt and uncle's restaurant, the the Crossroads Inn, in Schuylkill Haven, Pa.
A group photo of family members taken at the party hours before Slamon died - which family members have been posting on social media - shows Slamon mugging with her younger brother Ryan Slamon.
Tara doted on Ryan, Pietz said, and looked after him intensely.
On Facebook, Ryan wrote: "She truly was my best friend, she raised me, everyone that knew Tara knew of me...Life isn't going to be the same without her by my side."
Slamon and boyfriend Joseph Rivera were headed home from the gathering when their vehicle - with Slamon driving - struck the center median on a stretch of Interstate 78 in Lower Macungie Township, outside Allentown, Pa.
When Slamon got out of the car, she was struck by a passing vehicle. She died at a nearby hospital about five hours later.
Rivera, 33, of Hamilton, was treated and released from a Pennsylvania hospital. Also suffering injures were an an Easton, Pa. couple who stopped to help and were struck when the passing vehicle crashed into Slamon's car, police said.
Pietz said Rivera told Slamon to get out of the car and walk around the non-traffic side, but she apparently was leaning back into the car asking Rivera if he was OK when she was struck.
"She was just a golden personality to everybody," Pietz said.
In the past year, Tara Slamon landed a job as an administrative assistant, but continued to work shifts at Peters Place because she was a part of the place, Pietz said.
"You couldn't find a better person, she got along with everybody," Peters Place owner Mikey Peters said Wednesday.
Peters said Slamon worked for him for about six years. On Tuesday, the bar had a fundraiser for her and a line stretched out of the South Broad Street saloon.
"She was just a sweetheart and she'll be sorely missed around here, especially by me," Peters said. "She would go out of her way for anyone."
Slamon's family set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for a memorial service for Slamon.
Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.
