- A 56-year-old woman , Donike Gocaj, died after falling into a manhole on a busy street in Midtown Manhattan near Fifth Avenue and East 52nd Street late Monday night.
- Utility company Con Edison said surveillance footage showed a multi-axle truck dislodge the maintenance hole cover approximately 12 minutes before Gocaj fell in.
- “We are reviewing the details, and while this is a rare occurrence, manhole covers can get displaced by heavy vehicles. Our thoughts remain with her family, and safety remains our top priority,” the company said in a statement.
- A witness, Carlton Wood, said he saw Gocaj fall 10 to 15 feet into the hole after exiting her vehicle and immediately called 911. “She was just in the hole, screaming that she was dying. Over and over she was like, ‘I’m dying, I’m dying,’” said the New Jersey resident, who was walking to work at the time.
- The incident has highlighted concerns among New York City residents about maintenance hole safety, with Gocaj's family expressing shock and seeking more information as authorities investigate.
IN FULL
Grandmother’s final words revealed as she fell to her death down a dislodged manhole in NYC
