New York grandma dies falling down manhole after stepping out of car
A woman has died after stepping out of her car and falling down a manhole on Fifth Avenue in New York City.
Officers responded to the scene in Manhattan on Monday night (18 May) as the resident was found unconscious and unresponsive down the manhole.
The New York Police Department identified her as 56-year-old Donike Gocaj of Briarcliff Manor, New York.
"She closed the door behind her, and one step forward, I guess in the direction she was trying to go, and she just disappeared," witness Carlton Wood said, CBS reports.
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Wood said he called 911 while others were trying to help Gocaj, who fell out of her Mercedes-Benz SUV outside a Cartier store at 52nd and Fifth Avenue, out of the hole.
"Somebody had a short ladder, but that wasn't enough, so it was significantly deep," he added. "She was screaming she was dying.
"She wasn't on her phone. She wasn't distracted.
"There wasn't protective things around this hole. This could have happened to me."
Gocaj was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead, the department said. Her family told CBS at the scene that they were trying to figure out how this could have happened.
The manhole was for an electrical vault for utility company Con Edison, and city rules require manholes to be covered or blocked off to prevent this kind of tragedy.
"The cover has to be placed, and it has to be placed securely so that it can't be removed or it can't accidentally be removed," said attorney Christopher J. Gorayeb.
"Unfortunately, this is an accident that isn't all that rare in the city of New York."
"Following this tragic incident, we are continuing to investigate how this occurred," a Con Edison spokesperson said in a statement.
"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.
"Approximately 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.
"Our thoughts remain with her family, and safety remains our top priority."
The Mayor's Office added: "Our condolences are with the family of the woman who lost her life in this devastating incident.
"City agencies are working with Con Ed to support the emergency response and conduct a full investigation into what occurred.
"Every question must be asked and answered so that no New Yorker experiences a tragedy like this again."
LADbible Group has contacted Con Edison for comment.
Topics: US News
Anish Vij