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Woman dies after falling into uncovered New York City manhole

3 articles
3 sources
0% diversity
Updated 20.5.2026
Key Topics & People
Con Edison *Fifth Avenue Donike Gocaj manhole incident Briarcliff Manor

Coverage Framing

3
Human Interest(3)
Avg Factuality:83%
Avg Sensationalism:Moderate

Story Timeline

May 20 Morning

2 articles|2 sources
uncovered manholeutility companycon edisonheavy vehiclesfatal fall
Human Interest(2)
BBC News - WorldMay 20

Woman dies after falling into uncovered New York City manhole

A 56-year-old woman, identified as Donike Gocaj, died after falling approximately 10 feet into an uncovered manhole on Fifth Avenue in New York City late Monday night. Police found her unconscious and unresponsive down the hole after responding to an emergency call. The utility company, Con Edison, believes a truck dislodged the manhole cover about 12 minutes before the incident. Gocaj had parked her car nearby and then stepped out before falling. She was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead. Con Edison stated that heavy vehicles can displace manhole covers and are reviewing the details of the incident.

MeasuredFactual3 sources
Negative
South China Morning PostMay 20

Woman dies after falling into uncovered manhole in New York

A 56-year-old woman died after falling into an uncovered maintenance hole in Midtown Manhattan on Monday night. The incident occurred shortly before 11:30 p.m. near Fifth Avenue and East 52nd Street, shortly after she parked her vehicle. Firefighters recovered the woman, who was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Utility company Con Edison is investigating the incident and stated that surveillance footage suggests a multi-axle truck may have dislodged the manhole cover approximately 12 minutes before the woman's fall. The company noted that heavy vehicles can displace manhole covers, describing the event as rare.

MeasuredFactual2 sources
Negative

Key Claims

factual

A woman died after falling into an uncovered manhole on Fifth Avenue in New York City.

— police

factual

The woman, identified as Donike Gocaj, 56, was found unconscious and unresponsive.

— New York Police Department

quote

Gocaj's family is trying to understand how the tragedy occurred.

— Gocaj's family

factual

A 56-year-old woman died after falling into an uncovered manhole in New York.

— police

factual

The woman parked her Mercedes-Benz SUV near the manhole and fell in after exiting the vehicle.

— police

May 19 Evening

1 articles|1 sources
open manholefatal fallurban infrastructurepublic safetymaintenance hole
Human Interest(1)
The Guardian - World NewsMay 19

US family seeks answers after fatal fall into open Manhattan manhole

A 56-year-old woman, identified as Donike Gocaj, died after falling into an open maintenance hole on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue late Monday night. She stepped out of her SUV and into the uncovered hole near the Cartier building, falling approximately 10 feet. Steam reportedly caused her to go into cardiac arrest, and she was pronounced dead at a hospital. Con Edison, the city's electric utility provider, is investigating how the hole was left uncovered, as no construction was occurring nearby. The maintenance hole cover was found nearby, and authorities are considering if a truck may have dislodged it. The incident has prompted the family to seek answers regarding the uncovered hole.

Mixed toneFactual3 sources
Negative

Key Claims

factual

Donike Gocaj, 56, died after falling into an open maintenance hole on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue.

factual

Con Edison is investigating why the maintenance hole was left uncovered.

statistic

New York's department of environmental protection received over 700 service requests for missing maintenance hole covers this year.

— New York’s department of environmental protection

statistic

From 2007 to 2017, 388 trauma patients nationally fell into a maintenance hole, with 1% dying.

— a 2022 study