Disgraced Former-NYPD Sergeant Get Prison In Deadly Wrong-Way Taconic Crash

MOUNT PLEASANT, NY — A former NYPD sergeant will spend years behind bars after a fateful decision that cost a 61-year-old man his life.

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that Tiffany Howell, 48, of Warwick, will go to prison for causing the death of Manuel Boitel while driving the wrong direction on the Taconic State Parkway in Westchester County with a blood alcohol content of at least 0.18 on Jan. 22.

On Aug. 19, Howell pleaded guilty to felony aggravated vehicular homicide and manslaughter in Westchester County Court. Today, Howell was sentenced to concurrent sentences of four to 12 years in prison.

Howell's driver license has been revoked, and she has waived her right to appeal, according to the terms of a plea deal.

At 11:37 p.m. on Jan. 22, Howell was driving south in the northbound lanes of the Taconic State Parkway at more than 50 m.p.h. when she crashed head-on into a car driven by Boitel, causing his death. Howell had a blood alcohol content of at least 0.18 at the time —more than twice the legal limit. Boitel was taken to Westchester Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.

New York State requires the the Office of the Attorney General 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 assessment indicates an officer may have caused the death, The AG will conduct a full investigation of the incident.