NYPD Sgt. Tiffany Howell
Manuel Boitel
By Dan Murphy
A Peekskill man who was driving home from his Job as a doorman was struck and killed by an off-duty NYPD Sergeant who was driving the wrong way on the Taconic Parkway in Mt. Pleasant.
According to NYS Police, “On January 22, 2026, at approximately 11:39 p.m., members of the New York State Police at Hawthorne responded to a wrong-way collision northbound on the Taconic State Parkway near mile marker 3.7, in the Town of Mount Pleasant.
“A preliminary investigation determined that a 2021 Infiniti operated by Tiffany P. Howell, 47 of Warwick, NY was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes when it struck a 2024 Toyota operated by Manuel Boitel, 61 of Peekskill, NY head-on.
“Boitel was transported to Westchester Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. Howell was transported to Westchester Medical Center with what appears to be non-life-threatening injuries.
“Howell is a member of the NYPD and was off duty at the time of the collision. As required under NYS Executive Law Section 70-b, the New York State Attorney General’s Office has been notified of the incident.
“The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone who may have witnessed this incident is asked to contact the New York State Police Hawthorne Bureau of Criminal Investigation at 914-742-6057.”
Sgt. Tiffany Howell is an 18-year NYPD veteran.
Boitel’s family has set up a GoFundMe page to help with expenses. The page has almost $50,000 in donations. The page reads, “My aunt has just experienced an unimaginable loss. Her husband, a truly caring and selfless man, was killed in a tragic accident caused by an off duty NYPD officer who entered the highway in the wrong direction. He was always the first to help others, often putting the needs of those around him before his own. The irony is that he regularly donated to funds supporting police officers, as he always dreamed of becoming one himself.
“My aunt and her husband have been sharing 42 years of marriage filled with love and partnership. His sudden passing has left a huge void in our family, not only emotionally but also financially. He was the main provider and head of the household, and now my aunt, together with her sons, is facing the overwhelming challenge of covering funeral expenses and keeping up with household bills on their own.
“We are reaching out to our community for support during this incredibly difficult time. Any contribution, no matter the amount, will help my aunt and her sons manage the immediate costs and give them some breathing room as they navigate the months ahead. Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity. Your support means the world to our family as we try to find our way forward.” Posted Ismenia Mejia Cabrera.
Several media reports, including the Journal News and New York Times, write that on the night of the accident, Howell was scheduled to host a part for the Holy Name Society, at a cost of $150 per person at a Scarsdale cigar lounge. It is unclear whether Howell was traveling home after attending that event.
Media reports write that Cabrera posted on Instagram that “drunk NYPD” cop killed her uncle and that some of the money raised would be used for “legal counsel in making sure that justice is not overlooked for my uncle because she was NYPD.”
No charges have yet been filed, as investigators are awaiting a toxicology report, law enforcement sources said.
NY AG Letitia James’s office wrote, “The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has opened an investigation into the death of Manuel Boitel, who died on January 23, 2026 following a motor vehicle incident involving an off-duty member of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) on January 22, 2026 on the Taconic State Parkway in Westchester County.
“At approximately 11:39 p.m. on January 22, an off-duty NYPD officer was driving on the Taconic State Parkway near mile marker 3.7 when they struck another vehicle driven by Mr. Boitel. Mr. Boitel was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on January 23.
“Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI assesses every incident reported to it where a police officer or a peace officer, including a corrections officer, may have caused the death of a person by an act or omission. Under the law, the officer may be on-duty or off-duty, and the decedent may be armed or unarmed. Also, the decedent may or may not be in custody or incarcerated. If OSI’s assessment indicates an officer may have caused the death, OSI proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident.”
