The Daily Populous Thursday May 21st, 2026 morning edition
Authored by nbcnews.com and submitted by nbcnews

A woman fell to her death in New York City after she accidentally stepped into an open manhole, authorities said Tuesday.

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The 56-year-old woman, Donika Gocaj, had parked her car in midtown Manhattan when she walked into the manhole late Monday, a police official said.

The hole, which was about 10 feet deep, was near the Cartier store on Fifth Avenue. Authorities said it was steaming at the time the woman fell.

Officers found the woman unconscious and unresponsive, the police department said. She was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.

The manhole belongs to Con Edison, a local utility company. In a statement, the company said video showed the hole cover was dislodged after a multi-axle truck drove over it.

Twelve minutes later, the company said, the woman parked her car nearby.

“While this is a rare occurrence, manhole covers can get displaced by heavy vehicles,” the company said. “Our thoughts remain with her family, and safety remains our top priority.”

In a statement, the office of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said city agencies are working with the utility to support the emergency response and conduct a full investigation.

“Every question must be asked and answered so that no New Yorker experiences a tragedy like this again,” the mayor’s office said.

Jackal_Kid on May 20th, 2026 at 14:10 UTC »

> ... video showed the hole cover was dislodged after a multi-axle truck drove over it.

> Twelve minutes later, the company said, the woman parked her car nearby.

So the cover was not necessarily even removed. And the hole was only ten feet deep, but was part of a steam conduit. What a horrible fucking thing to just happen out of the blue, my heart breaks for Donika and her family.

woodboogers on May 20th, 2026 at 13:22 UTC »

it was not quick or painless. this story is actually horrible. she survived the fall and was steamed to death.

Aratak on May 20th, 2026 at 13:04 UTC »

I've always thought that this - which has been used so often as a joke in films, TV, and cartoons - seemed really scary and potentially fatal. This is the first time in my many years that I've read of it happening (though I'm sure it's happened many times in the greater scheme of things).

A dreadful thing for her family and friends. I hope that it was quick and painless for her.