<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A 56-year-old woman has died after </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/emergencies" rel="" target="_blank" title="falling"><span>falling</span></a><span> into an open maintenance hole on a busy </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/new-york" rel="" target="_blank" title="New York"><span>New York</span></a><span> City street.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The woman, Donike Gocaj, parked her Mercedes-Benz SUV right next to the maintenance hole on Monday night (Tuesday AEST) near the corner of Fifth Avenue and East 52nd Street in Midtown Manhattan and fell in after exiting the vehicle shortly before 11.30pm.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She was pronounced dead at a local hospital after firefighters pulled her out.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/rentvesting-tax-reform-to-push-people-away-from-popular-strategy/59229608-0e12-4a62-8aad-47806eb678bc" target="_blank"><strong><span>Is rentvesting dead? Tax reform to push people away from popular strategy</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Utility company Con Edison said surveillance camera footage appeared to show that the hole cover was dislodged by a multi-axle truck that drove over it about 12 minutes before the woman fell in.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>“We are reviewing the details, and while this is a rare occurrence, manhole covers can get displaced by heavy vehicles," a Con Edison spokesperson said in a statement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our thoughts remain with her family, and safety remains our top priority."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/us-news-new-york-woman-donike-gocaj-dies-after-falling-into-manhole/5057542f-b9b4-47d1-bd76-8bc881b99273" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The accident happened in an upscale shopping area that includes a Cartier store and is about four blocks from Trump Tower. Gocaj lived in Briarcliff Manor, a suburb of New York City, police said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Carlton Wood told the </span><em><span>New York Post</span></em><span> that he saw the woman fall into the hole after she walked a couple of steps away from her vehicle. He said he ran over and called 911. He estimated she fell between three and five metres.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>“She was just in the hole, screaming that she was dying. Over and over she was like, ‘I’m dying, I’m dying,’” said the New Jersey resident, who was walking to work at the time.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/canley-heights-shooting-at-least-one-dead-four-seriously-injured/7be74194-cf0c-4b0a-8191-b094e0cc0320" target="_blank" title="One man dead after five turn up at Sydney hospitals after alleged shooting"><strong><span>One man dead after five turn up at Sydney hospitals after alleged shooting</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wood said the site was not blocked off, there were no signs of work and the cover was near the hole, where it appeared very hot inside.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>New Yorkers say falling into maintenance holes is among their concerns about living in the city.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>“There was a couple manhole incidents nearby where I live,” said city resident Brady Metzger.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>“It is a big fear. I mean, I’m more scared of getting pushed into the (subway) tracks than I am of the manhole covers. But I did hear about that incident in Midtown, and yeah, it’s scary.”</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Relatives of the woman told WABC-TV that they were shocked and saddened by her death, and they were seeking more information.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The city's chief medical examiner's office will determine the cause of death.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><strong><span> </span></strong><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><strong><span> </span></strong><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><strong><span> </span></strong><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><strong><span> </span></strong><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong></strong></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><strong><span> </span></strong><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a><strong></strong></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><strong><span> </span></strong><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a><strong></strong></li></ul></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong></strong></div></div>