A 56-year-old woman died after falling into an uncovered maintenance hole on a busy New York City street Monday night around 11:30 p.m., according to police and utility officials. The incident occurred near the corner of Fifth Avenue and East 52nd Street in Midtown Manhattan.
Key Takeaways
A 56-year-old woman died after falling into an uncovered maintenance hole near Fifth Avenue and East 52nd Street in New York City. She had just exited her Mercedes-Benz SUV when she fell about 10 feet, suffering cardiac arrest from steam exposure.
- Woman identified as Donike Gocaj from Briarcliff Manor
- Fell into manhole around 11:30 p.m. Monday night near Cartier storefront
- Steam caused cardiac arrest; pronounced dead at hospital
- Con Edison investigating why hole was uncovered, cover found 15 feet away
The woman, identified as Donike Gocaj from Briarcliff Manor, parked her Mercedes-Benz SUV next to the maintenance hole, exited her vehicle, and fell about 10 feet into it. She suffered cardiac arrest due to steam exposure and was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Con Edison is investigating why the hole was not covered. The utility company found the manhole cover about 15 feet from the opening, raising suspicions that a truck may have dislodged it. 'We are deeply saddened to confirm that a member of the public has died after falling into an open manhole,' Con Edison said in a statement.
The woman's relatives told WABC-TV they were shocked and saddened by her death and seeking more information. City police responded to a 911 call and found Gocaj unresponsive at the bottom of the hole near the Cartier storefront.
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