Woman dies after falling into open manhole in New York City

A 56-year-old woman from Briarcliff Manor, identified as Donike Gocaj, died Monday night after falling into an open maintenance hole in Midtown Manhattan. The incident occurred shortly before 11:30 p.m. near the corner of Fifth Avenue and East 52nd Street, in the vicinity of a Cartier building.

Police report that Gocaj parked her Mercedes-Benz SUV right next to the hole and plummeted approximately 10 feet after exiting the vehicle. Officers responding to a 911 call found her unresponsive at the bottom of the hole. She was pulled out by firefighters and later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Utility company Con Edison is investigating the accident, stating that the manhole cover had likely been displaced by a passing truck minutes before the fall. In a statement, the company expressed deep sadness over the death and noted that safety remains their top priority.

Relatives of Gocaj said they were shocked and saddened by the incident and are seeking more information. The city's chief medical examiner's office will determine the cause of death.