Woman dies after stepping out of car, falling into uncovered manhole near Manhattan Cartier store

A 56-year-old Westchester woman was killed after stepping out of her Mercedes-Benz late Monday in midtown and falling into an uncovered manhole, police said.

The NYPD said the accident occurred on Fifth Avenue, not far from the Cartier store, and may have taken place after a truck dislodged the manhole cover. 

Police identified the woman as Donike Gocaj. Police responded to a 911 call at 11:19 p.m. and found her, unconscious and unresponsive, inside the uncovered Con Edison manhole.

Gocaj was transported to New York-Presbyterian / Weill-Cornell Medical Center, where she died, police said.

Con Ed and the NYPD are investigating why the hole was uncovered, but police said it's possible it might have been knocked off by a passing truck. Con Ed's investigation remained underway as of 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, a spokesperson told Newsday via email.

"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," Con Ed said in a statement.

"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 statement said.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press, Society of the Silurians and National Headliner Awards for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing. He is the author of “Swee'pea,” about New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. His debut crime novel, “For Nothing Is Hidden,” rooted in 1950s Long Island, was released in October 2025.