{"id":237625,"date":"2026-05-20T02:37:41","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T02:37:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/237625\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T02:37:41","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T02:37:41","slug":"woman-dies-after-falling-into-open-manhole-in-midtown-manhattan-it-was-like-she-disappeared","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/237625\/","title":{"rendered":"Woman dies after falling into open manhole in Midtown Manhattan: \u2018It was like she disappeared\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEW YORK \u2014 A 56-year-old woman from Westchester died after she stepped out of an SUV and abruptly fell into an open manhole on a Midtown Manhattan street, police<\/a> said Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Donike Gocaj, from Briarcliff Manor, had just parked her Mercedes-Benz SUV on East 52nd Street near the corner of Fifth Avenue before stepping out of her vehicle at about 11:20 p.m. and into the open manhole a moment later, cops said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not giving any statements or comments at this time,\u201d her heartbroken son told the Daily News when reached Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Con Edison<\/a> said in a statement that it was still investigating, but that it appears a heavy truck rolling over the manhole cover may have dislodged it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have reviewed video footage from the area which suggests that the cover was dislodged after a multi-axle truck turning onto 52nd Street from 5th Avenue drove over it,\u201d a spokesperson for the utility said. \u201cApproximately 12 minutes later, the person involved in the incident parked her car nearby. We are reviewing the details, and while this is a rare occurrence, manhole covers can get displaced by heavy vehicles.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur thoughts remain with her family, and safety remains our top priority.\u201d<\/p>\n

She fell about 10 feet<\/a>, police said. Firefighters quickly removed her from the hole and EMS rushed her to Cornell Weill Medical Center, where she died, police said.<\/p>\n

Her cause of death was not immediately known.<\/p>\n

Carlton Wood, 36, was on his way to work when he saw Gocaj fall.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was like she disappeared,\u201d said Wood. \u201cI saw her get out of her car, I seen her take a step forward, and then I didn\u2019t see her anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s how quickly she just dropped into this hole. It was like those cartoons where they just vanish.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wood said he dialed 911 and bystanders mounted several unsuccessful rescue attempts as they waited for firefighters to arrive.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne guy tried to go into the hole. He like, sat on the edge of the hole and dipped his body in, and we actually had to pull him back out,\u201d said Wood. \u201cI guess it was deeper than he had initially thought. Somebody had a ladder in their car, but obviously that was too short.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the good Samaritans tried in vain to reach her, Gocaj could be heard screaming.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m dying,\u201d she said, over and over from inside the hole, Wood recalled.<\/p>\n

By the time cops arrived at the scene, EMS had already rushed Gocaj to the hospital, officials said.<\/p>\n

Visitors to Midtown were stunned that a manhole could be left open in one of the city\u2019s most heavily traveled areas. The manhole was located outside the Cartier store, officials said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never seen a manhole by itself open,\u201d said Alex, a union carpenter for more than 25 years. \u201cUsually, it\u2019s well protected and covered up. Every time I see them, they\u2019re always guarded. Usually they are marked out and covered up, and there would be cones.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone didn\u2019t do their job. You can\u2019t leave the manhole open,\u201d added Steven George, a local IT director. \u201cYou can\u2019t open (a manhole), it\u2019s heavy. You need a metal rod to open the manhole up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s horrific,\u201d George, 68, said, thinking about the tragedy. \u201cI\u2019ve seen people get hit by cars, but nothing like this. I tell my children don\u2019t go on their phones when they are walking. Just be vigilant.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gocaj\u2019s distraught relatives told WABC Eyewitness News that the Westchester resident had two children and two grandchildren. The most recent entry on her Facebook page celebrates what appears to be the First Communion of a young relative.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m shaken just thinking of that. How insane is that,\u201d asked one Midtown worker, who would only identify himself as Michael. \u201cIt\u2019s a horrible mistake. The family should be so angry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Word of Gocaj\u2019s death hit home for Michael in another way, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s the same age as me,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s not a time to die.\u201d<\/p>\n

Con Edison covered the hole as they continued the probe how the hole was left open and unprotected.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are actively investigating how this occurred,\u201d a Con Ed spokesperson said in a statement. \u201cOur thoughts are with the individual\u2019s family, and safety remains our top priority.\u201d<\/p>\n

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