"Police say she parked her Mercedes-Benz SUV at West 52nd and Fifth Avenue in midtown Manhattan just before 11.20pm. She had stepped out of the car and directly into the maintenance hole in front of the Cartier mansion. Gocaj fell down about 10ft (3m), and steam caused her to go into cardiac arrest. She was rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead."
"The city's electric utility provider, Con Edison, is investigating why the maintenance hole was left uncovered since no construction was going on nearby. The maintenance hole cover was found about 15ft from the opening. Authorities are reportedly looking into the possibility that a truck ran over it and caused it to dislodge. We are deeply saddened to confirm that a member of the public has died after falling into an open manhole, Con Edison said in a statement."
"New York's department of environmental protection, which is responsible for maintenance holes connected to the sewers, says it has received more than 700 service requests for missing covers during the year so far. Injuries or deaths related to open maintenance holes are relatively rare. Nonetheless, open maintenance holes are an urban nightmare akin to being hit by falling masonry, scaffolding, an air conditioner, getting pushed on subway tracks, a lightning strike or other such event."
A 56-year-old woman, identified as Donike Gocaj from Briarcliff Manor, died after stepping out of her Mercedes-Benz SUV and slipping into an open maintenance hole on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue near the Cartier mansion. Police said she parked near West 52nd Street and Fifth Avenue shortly before 11:20pm, then fell about 10 feet. Steam from the opening contributed to cardiac arrest, and she was pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital. Con Edison is investigating why the cover was left uncovered, noting the cover was found about 15 feet from the opening and considering whether a truck dislodged it. The city’s environmental protection department reported more than 700 service requests for missing covers so far this year.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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