She stepped out of a Mercedes in Manhattan, fell right into a manhole and died | World Information
4 min learnUp to date: Could 20, 2026 09:01 PM IST
A 56-year-old girl died after falling into an uncovered manhole in Midtown Manhattan late Monday evening, triggering an investigation into how the utility gap was left uncovered in one in every of New York Metropolis’s busiest areas.
In keeping with the police, Donike Gocaj of Briarcliff Manor in Westchester County fell practically 10 toes into the open upkeep gap shortly after stepping out of her parked Mercedes-Benz SUV close to the nook of East 52nd Avenue and Fifth Avenue. The incident passed off exterior the Cartier Mansion constructing in Manhattan.
The New York Instances reported that emergency responders obtained a 911 name at round 11:19 PM. Officers arriving on the scene discovered Gocaj unconscious and unresponsive contained in the utility gap. She was later transported to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Heart, the place she was pronounced useless.
Witness Carlton Wooden, recognized by the NYT as a fireplace security director on the close by Lotte New York Palace resort, advised the outlet that he noticed Gocaj step out of her car moments earlier than the autumn. “She took a few steps and simply vanished,” Wooden advised the New York Instances. He additionally recalled listening to her repeatedly scream, “I’m dying,” after the autumn.
In keeping with the report, bystanders tried to help her earlier than emergency crews arrived. One particular person reportedly tried to climb into the opening whereas one other introduced a ladder, although it was too quick to achieve her.
Utility firm Con Edison stated preliminary evaluate of surveillance footage advised that the manhole cowl had been dislodged by a multi-axle truck making a flip onto East 52nd Avenue roughly 12 minutes earlier than the incident.
“We’re reviewing the small print, and whereas it is a uncommon prevalence, manhole covers can get displaced by heavy autos,” Con Edison spokesperson Anne Marie Corbalis stated in an announcement, as quoted by the BBC. “Our ideas stay along with her household, and security stays our prime precedence,” Corbalis added.
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The BBC, citing CBS, reported that Gocaj’s household questioned how the uncovered gap was left with out warning indicators or boundaries. Her daughter-in-law reportedly advised reporters on the scene that there have been no cones, markings or warning tape across the opening.
Metropolis officers confirmed that Con Edison had an lively work allow for the block, although no work was underway on the time of the accident. A spokesperson for New York Metropolis Corridor advised the New York Instances that authorities are working with the utility firm to find out precisely what occurred.
“Each query should be requested and answered in order that no New Yorker experiences a tragedy like this once more,” Metropolis Corridor spokesperson Jeremy Edwards stated, in keeping with the newspaper.
Police stated no criminality is suspected at this stage, and no arrests have been made. The New York Metropolis health worker’s workplace is investigating the precise reason behind demise.
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The uncovered manhole was reportedly a part of Con Edison’s underground steam community, which serves clients throughout New York Metropolis.
Open or lacking manhole covers stay a recurring problem in New York Metropolis. In keeping with knowledge cited by the New York Instances, town’s Division of Environmental Safety has obtained greater than 700 service requests associated to open manholes to this point this yr. The division oversees roughly 100,000 lively manholes linked to town’s sewer and wastewater infrastructure, the BBC reported.
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