The woman who fell down a New York City manhole and died seconds after getting out of her Mercedes has been named as a much-loved 56-year-old grandmother.
Donike Gocaj, 56, was killed on Monday evening after parking her car outside Cartier’s flagship store on Fifth Avenue after falling down the open hole.
Gocaj, who lives in a $1.1 million home in Briarcliff Manor in Westchester County, was described as ‘a loving son to a son and daughter and a loving grandmother to two grandchildren,’ according to a loved one who spoke to ABC7.
The tragedy happened outside Cartier’s flagship New York store on Fifth Avenue at 11:19pm on Monday night.
Power company Con Edison, which is in charge of the manhole, said no construction work was ongoing and is investigating what happened.
They said the cover was found around 15 feet away.
New York City saw its first hot summer day on Monday evening, which has sparked some chatter online about whether the increased temperatures may have caused the manhole to pop off by itself.
Gocaj was found unconscious and unresponsive at the bottom of the manhole.
She was extracted by an EMS team and rushed to to New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner will determine her cause of death.
Donike Gocaj (left) has been named as the woman who fell into a manhole and died after parking her Mercedes just off Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue on Monday night
Donike Gocaj has been named as the woman who fell into a manhole and died after parking her Mercedes just off Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue on Monday night
Gocaj’s car is pictured parked next to the manhole that she fell into. It was covered up by Con Edison workers after the tragedy
Gocaj was described as a loving mother to two children and a grandmother of two by grief-stricken family members
The manhole cover was found around 15 feet away. Con Edison said it was not being worked on at the time. New York City saw its first heat wave of the summer on Monday, sparking speculation about whether the increase in temperature may have popped the cover
Disturbing photos from the scene show the Mercedes car still parked, with the manhole sitting just to the left of the driver’s door.
The manhole appeared to have been given a temporary plastic covering in the wake of the tragedy.
Police have made no arrests in connection to this incident, but they have opened an investigation.
Gocaj was visiting New York City from her home in Westchester (pictured) when tragedy struck
Safety workers are seen beside the manhole which the woman fell into. It is unclear if the yellow safety fencing was erected before or after the woman’s death
EMS workers are seen at the scene of Monday night’s tragedy. Con Edison has said it will open an investigation
The woman died after parking her car outside the flagship Cartier store (pictured) on East 52nd Street
City regulations mandate that any uncovered openings on the street need to be barricaded and clearly marked with flags, lights or signs.
New York City laws order contractors to ensure any manholes being worked on are temporarily covered outside of working hours for pedestrian and driver safety.
Con Edison, which maintains the tens of thousands of manholes in the city, said it is investigating why the manhole the woman fell into was open.
‘We are deeply saddened to confirm that a member of the public has died after falling into an open manhole. We are actively investigating how this occurred,’ a Con Edison spokesperson said.
‘Our thoughts are with the individual’s family, and safety remains our top priority.’
The Daily Mail has contacted the New York Police Department and Con Edison for further comment.
