Woman dies after falling into NYC manhole
A 56-year-old Westchester County woman plunged to her death after stepping out of her car into an open manhole in Midtown Manhattan on Monday, sources told ABC News.
The woman, identified as Donike Gocaj of Briarcliff Manor, New York, parked her car at West 52 Street and Fifth Avenue just before 11:20 p.m. Monday, the sources said.
An autopsy determined Gocaj died accidentally of scald burns with inhalational thermal injury and blunt force trauma of torso, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
She stepped out of her Mercedes-Benz SUV and into an uncovered manhole, falling about 10 feet, sources said.
After Gocaj fell into the hole, police sources said they believe the steam caused her to go into cardiac arrest.
The woman was rushed to New York Presbyterian Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, sources said.
The New York City Medical Examiner has not yet provided an official cause of death.
No construction was ongoing, and the manhole cover was discovered about 15 feet away from the opening, according to sources.
Con Edison, which operated the manhole, said it is "actively investigating" the incident. The utility said it reviewed video footage and determined, as police suspected, a truck dislodged the cover of the manhole.
"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," Con Edison said in a statement Tuesday.
A representative with the New York City mayor's office told ABC News that city agencies are working with Con Ed on the probe.
"Every question must be asked and answered so that no New Yorker experiences a tragedy like this again," the representative said in a statement.
-ABC News' Ivan Pereira contributed to this report.
