Family Mourns Father Killed in Taconic State Parkway Wrong-Way Crash

Tragic Wrong-Way Collision

• 💔 A devastating wrong-way crash on the Taconic Parkway resulted in the death of Manuel Boitel, a beloved father and husband.
• 🚗 Investigators state that an off-duty NYPD Sergeant, Tiffany Howell, was driving southbound in the northbound lanes when she collided head-on with Boitel's vehicle.

Victim's Life and Legacy

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Manuel Boitel, 61, is remembered by his sons as a hardworking man who always prioritized his family.
• 💼 He had dedicated 30 years of his life to his job as a doorman at an Upper East Side condo complex and was on his way home from a night shift at the time of the crash.
• 👮‍♂️ In a poignant twist, Boitel was a strong supporter of the police force, having made donations and even aspiring to be an NYPD officer himself.

Family's Grief and Reaction

• 📞 Boitel's sons discovered the extent of the tragedy after their mother noticed their father's GPS tracker had been stationary for over an hour on the Taconic Parkway.
• 🇩🇴 A native of the Dominican Republic, Boitel came to the US in his late teens and built a life with his wife, who was too distraught to speak.
• 🗣️ One son expressed hope that the incident would haunt the off-duty officer for taking such a wonderful person from the world.

Investigation and Officer Status

• ⚖️ The NYPD confirmed that Sergeant Howell is currently on modified duty, a standard procedure for incidents involving officers.
• 🔍 The attorney general's office, through its office of special investigation, is conducting a preliminary assessment of the incident.