‘I’m dying’: Woman, 56, dies after falling 10 feet into open manhole near NYC Cartier store

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: A 56-year-old woman died late on Monday, May 18, after falling into an uncovered manhole in Midtown Manhattan near the flagship Cartier store, according to police and witnesses. Authorities identified the woman as Donike Gocaj, a grandmother from Briarcliff Manor in Westchester County.

The incident occurred around 11:20 pm near East 52nd Street and Fifth Avenue after Gocaj exited her parked Mercedes-Benz and fell approximately 10 to 15 feet into the open utility hole. Witnesses said she repeatedly screamed for help as bystanders attempted to assist her before emergency crews arrived.

Woman dies after falling into open manhole

One witness, Carl Wood, said, “She was just in the hole screaming that she was dying,” continuing, “over and over she was like, ‘I’m dying, I’m dying.’” Wood, a fire safety specialist who said he was on his way to work at the time, said he ran toward the scene and called 911 after hearing Gocaj’s screams from inside the hole.

According to witnesses, the open Con Edison maintenance hole was located just feet from Gocaj’s vehicle. Wood said Gocaj took only a few steps after closing her car door before disappearing into the opening.

“You know, it was like in those cartoons. She just disappeared into the hole,” he said. Wood added that the displaced manhole cover was lying beside the opening and that there were no cones, barricades, or warning signs around the site.

Other bystanders attempted to help before first responders arrived. One man reportedly tried lowering himself into the hole so Gocaj could grab onto him, while another person brought a ladder that witnesses said was too short to reach her.

Wood also said the conditions inside the hole appeared dangerous, describing possible hot water and steam below ground level.

“Like maybe steaming hot water. So I’m not sure, but I’m assuming maybe she was burning up down there. Bad air down there,” he said. Emergency responders from the FDNY and EMS arrived within minutes, but witnesses said Gocaj had stopped screaming by that time.

Truck may have dislodged deadly open manhole: Con Edison

The cause of the incident remains under investigation, including questions surrounding why the utility hole had been left uncovered. A spokesperson for Con Edison said video footage from the area appeared to show a truck dislodging the manhole cover shortly before Gocaj arrived.

“We 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,” the spokesperson said. “Approximately 12 minutes later, the person involved in the incident parked her car nearby."

The company added, “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.”