Police officers in New York responded to an emergency call and found the woman unresponsive down the manhole just before midnight on Monday and she later died in hospital09:49, 20 May 2026A grandmother died after stepping out of her car and down a manhole on New York's bustling Fifth Avenue.‌Police raced to the scene in Manhattan, US, with the woman found unconscious and unresponsive inside the drain. The New York Police Department later identified her as 56-year-old Donike Gocaj, and confirmed she had died after being rushed to hospital in the early hours of Tuesday morning.‌he gran had fallen 10ft after exiting her vehicle and police have confirmed an ongoing investigation and say no criminal activity is suspected at this time. Open manholes are a common issue in the city, with a number of accident reported every year. The utility company believe the cover of the hole was dislodged by a truck.‌READ MORE: Wife 'beheaded husband with axe before feeding his genitals to their dogs'READ MORE: Influencer who stole baby wombat from its mother sparking outrage now facing prison time"Approximately 12 minutes later, the person involved in the incident parked her car nearby," a spokesperson for utility company Con Edison said."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."‌The New York City Department of Environmental Protection, which manages the city's water supply and wastewater infrastructure, has received more than 700 service requests regarding open manholes so far this year, the New York Times reports."She closed the door behind her, and one step forward, I guess in the direction she was trying to go, and she just disappeared," witness Carlton Wood told CBS. "Somebody had a short ladder, but that wasn't enough, so it was significantly deep. She was screaming she was dying."She wasn't in her phone, and she wasn't distracted. There wasn't protective things around this hole. This could have happened to me."‌The victim's family said she leaves behind a son, a daughter and two grandchildren. Ms Gocaj, of Briarcliff Manor ,had just parked her Mercedes-Benz SUV near West 52nd Street outside the iconic Cartier store.Footage from the scene showed the manhole located yards from the driver's side door of her car. By Tuesday morning, the opening had been covered and cordoned off.Article continues belowThe grandmother's daughter-in-law told CBS News there were no cones, warning signs, or barriers around the manhole - which goes against city ruled."The cover has to be placed, and it has to be placed securely so that it can't be removed or it can't accidentally be removed," said attorney Christopher Gorayeb."Unfortunately, this is an accident that isn't all that rare in the city of New York."