Donike Gocaj Dies After Falling Into Manhole in Midtown

Donike Gocaj, 56, died Monday night after stepping out of her Mercedes Benz SUV and falling into an open manhole at West 52nd and Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. Police said she fell about 10 feet and was unconscious when responders reached her. She was taken to New York Presbyterian Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

West 52nd And Fifth Avenue

Police said Gocaj had parked just before 11:20 p.m. at the Manhattan intersection before she stepped out of the vehicle and dropped into the uncovered opening. Her family later identified her as a resident of Briarcliff Manor.

The manhole cover was found about 15 feet away from the opening. Police said no construction was ongoing at the location when she fell.

Con Edison Investigation

Con Edison said it is investigating why the manhole was left uncovered. In a statement, the utility said, “We are deeply saddened to confirm that a member of the public has died after falling into an open manhole. We are actively investigating how this occurred. Our thoughts are with the individual's family, and safety remains our top priority,”

The company said it is actively investigating how the death occurred. For the family, the immediate issue is the unanswered condition of the opening that Gocaj encountered on a busy Midtown block; for investigators, the focus is on why the cover was not in place and how far it had been displaced.