Do you know more about this story? Email nic.white@dailymail.com By JAMES CIRRONE, US NEWS REPORTER and NIC WHITE, US SENIOR INVESTIGATIONS REPORTER Published: 15:17 BST, 19 May 2026 | Updated: 18:31 BST, 19 May 2026
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 grandmother.Donike Gocaj was killed on Monday evening after parking her car outside Cartier's flagship store on Fifth Avenue and plunging into the open hole.The 56-year-old, who lived in a $1.1 million home in Briarcliff Manor in Westchester County, was described as 'a loving mother 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 around 11.20pm on Monday night.Con Edison, which is responsible for the manhole and several others in the city, said no construction work was ongoing and it was investigating what happened. A spokesman for the power company said the cover was found around 15 feet away. 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 Gocaj's car was parked next to the manhole that she fell into. It was covered up by Con Edison workers after the tragedyNew York City saw its first hot summer day on Monday evening, which 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 New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause of her death. Photos from the scene show the Mercedes car still parked, with the manhole sitting just to the left of the driver's door. It appeared to have been given a temporary plastic covering in the wake of 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 15ft away. New York experienced the hottest weather of the year so far on Monday, sparking speculation about whether the cover may have popped off Gocaj was visiting the store in Manhattan from her home in Westchester at the timeIt is unclear if safety fencing was erected around the manhole before or after Gocaj's death The grandmother died after parking outside the flagship Cartier store on East 52nd Street Police have made no arrests in connection with the incident, but have opened an investigation. 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. '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 spokesman said.'Our thoughts are with the individual's family, and safety remains our top priority.'The Daily Mail has contacted the New York City Police Department and Con Edison for further comment.
