New York woman dies after falling into open manhole on Fifth Avenue
Consensus Summary
A 56-year-old woman named Donike Gocaj from Briarcliff Manor died after falling into an uncovered maintenance hole on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue near West 52nd Street on May 20, 2026, around 11:20–11:30 PM. She was stepping out of her parked Mercedes-Benz SUV when she slipped into the hole, which was approximately 10ft (3m) deep, and suffered cardiac arrest due to steam or shock. Con Edison is investigating how the cover was dislodged, with surveillance footage suggesting a truck may have driven over it. The area was not marked or blocked off, despite no nearby construction. Gocaj’s family, who described her as a loving grandmother, is seeking answers. The incident highlights ongoing urban safety concerns, as New York has seen rare but fatal manhole-related accidents in the past, including a 2019 death of an unhoused man and a 1979 fatality from falling masonry. Authorities are reviewing the cause of death, while the city’s utility providers emphasize safety as a top priority.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Donike Gocaj, a 56-year-old woman from Briarcliff Manor, died after falling into an open maintenance hole on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue near West 52nd Street on May 20, 2026, around 11:20–11:30 PM local time.
- Gocaj was pronounced dead at a local hospital after being pulled from the hole, which was approximately 10ft (3m) deep.
- Con Edison, the city’s electric utility provider, is investigating the incident and confirmed the manhole cover was dislodged, with surveillance footage suggesting a multi-axle truck may have driven over it.
- The manhole cover was found about 15ft (4.5m) from the opening, and the area was not marked or blocked off despite no nearby construction.
- Gocaj left behind a daughter, a son, and two young grandsons; her family described her as a doting grandmother who frequently traveled to visit relatives.
- The New York Department of Environmental Protection has received over 700 service requests for missing manhole covers in 2026 so far.
- A 2022 study found that from 2007 to 2017, 388 trauma patients nationally fell into maintenance holes, with 1% dying as a result (20–49 cases per year).
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Steam from the hole caused Gocaj to go into cardiac arrest.
- The incident occurred in front of the Cartier mansion on Fifth Avenue.
- A 17-year-old college student was killed by falling masonry in 1979 on Broadway, prompting facade inspection laws.
- A man who was unhoused died in a Manhattan manhole in 2019 after falling in two weeks prior.
- A witness, Carlton Wood, reported hearing Gocaj scream ‘I’m dying, I’m dying’ repeatedly after falling.
- Wood estimated the hole was up to 5 meters deep (slightly deeper than the 3m reported by the Guardian).
- The incident occurred near a Cartier store and about four blocks from Trump Tower.
- Gocaj’s Facebook posts highlighted her involvement in family milestones, including travel to Australia.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states the hole was 10ft (3m) deep, while The Age’s witness estimated it was up to 5 meters (16.4ft) deep.
- The Guardian mentions the incident occurred at West 52nd and Fifth Avenue, while The Age specifies East 52nd Street (though both agree on Fifth Avenue).
- The Guardian reports the time as just before 11:20 PM, while The Age states it was shortly before 11:30 PM.
Source Articles
New York woman dies after stepping out of car into open manhole
Family seeks answers after incident at uncovered maintenance hole near Cartier building late at night Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email The family of a New York woman is struggling for answers after the 56-year-old fell to her death upon stepping out of her car and slipping down an open maintenance hole on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue. The woman in question died on Monday night and was identified by family members as Donike Gocaj, from Briarcliff Manor, a commuter belt area north of
Grandmother dies after stepping out of car into open New York City manhole
Surveillance camera footage appeared to show that the cover was dislodged by a truck that drove over it about 12 minutes before Donike Gocaj, 56, fell in.