A tragic incident unfolded on the busy Fifth Avenue in New York as a grandmother lost her life after accidentally falling into a manhole. Authorities swiftly responded to the scene in Manhattan where they found the woman unconscious inside the drain. Identified as 56-year-old Donike Gocaj, she passed away after being taken to the hospital early on Tuesday morning.

The grandmother had descended 10 feet down the manhole after exiting her vehicle. Police have launched an investigation ruling out any criminal activity at this point. Open manholes pose a recurring hazard in the city, with several accidents reported annually. It is suspected that a passing truck may have dislodged the manhole cover.

A utility company spokesperson from Con Edison mentioned that shortly after parking her car nearby, the tragic incident occurred. While such occurrences are rare, heavy vehicles can unintentionally shift manhole covers. The safety of the public remains a top priority for the company.

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection, responsible for managing the city’s water and wastewater infrastructure, has received over 700 service requests related to open manholes this year according to reports from the New York Times.

Eyewitness Carlton Wood described the harrowing moment when the victim vanished into the open manhole after taking just one step out of her car. He emphasized the lack of safety precautions around the hole, highlighting the potential danger it posed to anyone.

The family of the victim, survived by a son, a daughter, and two grandchildren, expressed their grief. The incident occurred as Ms. Gocaj parked her Mercedes-Benz SUV near West 52nd Street close to the Cartier store. Footage from the scene indicated the proximity of the manhole to the driver’s side of her vehicle, which was later secured.

Inconsistencies in safety measures were noted by the victim’s daughter-in-law, who mentioned the absence of warning signs, cones, or barriers around the manhole, contravening city regulations. Legal experts stressed the importance of securely placing and maintaining manhole covers to prevent such accidents, which unfortunately are not uncommon in New York City.