An NYPD sergeant who got into a fatal off-duty head-on collision driving the wrong way on a Westchester County parkway was arrested Monday for homicide after investigators determined her blood alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit when she crashed, a source said.
Sgt. Tiffany Howell was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide in the Jan. 22 death of Manuel Boitel, 61, who was on his way home from work when he was killed.
Howell’s blood alcohol level at the time of the crash was allegedly .26, the source said. The legal limit is .08.
“Today’s indictment marks a significant move toward accountability, though it cannot undo the tremendous loss this family still carries,” said Johnathan Roberts, an attorney for the victim’s family.
“No family should have to lay a loved one to rest because someone entrusted with public safety made the reckless decision to drive under the influence. We appreciate the grand jury’s careful consideration of the evidence and its decision to bring these charges.”
Howell was arraigned in Westchester Supreme Court and released on $500,000 bond, the source said.
She was driving her Infiniti south in the northbound lanes of the Taconic State Parkway in Mount Pleasant when she slammed into Boitel’s Toyota about 11:40 p.m., authorities say.
Medics rushed Boitel to Westchester Medical Center but he couldn’t be saved.
Boitel was returning home from his job as a doorman at Manhattan’s St. Tropez luxury condominium building on E. 64th St. near First Ave.
Howell had just left a “Holy Smoke 2026” cigar social she helped organize at Mom’s Cigar Warehouse in Scarsdale. The social featured an open bar, buffet-style dinner and premium cigars. She was taken to the same hospital as Boitel but with non-life-threatening injuries.
Boitel had when he was younger talked of becoming a cop and was a big fan of law enforcement.
“The irony is that he regularly donated to funds supporting police officers, as he always dreamed of becoming one himself,” family members said of Boitel in a GoFundMe post.