A New York woman died after stepping out of her car and falling into an uncovered maintenance hole on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. The victim, identified by family as Donike Gocaj, 56, from Briarcliff Manor, was parking her Mercedes-Benz SUV near West 52nd Street just before 11:20 p.m. on Monday. She stepped directly into the open hole in front of the Cartier mansion.
Fatal Fall
Gocaj fell approximately 10 feet (3 meters) into the maintenance hole. The steam inside caused her to go into cardiac arrest. She was rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Her family expressed shock and sadness over the sudden tragedy.
Investigation Underway
Con Edison, the city's electric utility provider, is investigating why the maintenance hole was left uncovered, as no construction was taking place nearby. The cover was found about 15 feet from the opening. Authorities suspect a truck may have run over it, dislodging the cover.
“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. “We are actively investigating how this occurred. Our thoughts are with the individual’s family, and safety remains our top priority.”
Rising Incidents
New York's Department of Environmental Protection, responsible for sewer maintenance holes, has received over 700 service requests for missing covers this year. While injuries and deaths from open manholes are rare, they remain a serious urban hazard. In 2019, an unhoused man was found dead in a Manhattan manhole two weeks after falling in. A 2022 study reported that from 2007 to 2017, 388 trauma patients fell into manholes nationally, with a 1% fatality rate.
This incident echoes other urban dangers like falling masonry or scaffolding. In 1979, a 17-year-old student was killed by falling masonry on Broadway, leading to mandatory facade inspections. However, manhole safety remains an ongoing concern.
