Manhattan woman dies after stepping into open manhole on Fifth Avenue
A 56-year-old woman, Donike Gocaj, died after stepping out of her car on West 52nd Street at Fifth Avenue and falling into an open maintenance hole; steam released during the fall, leading to cardiac arrest. Con Edison is investigating why the hole was uncovered, with reports the cover may have been dislodged by a passing truck; the cover was found about 15 feet from the opening. The incident underscores ongoing concerns about missing covers, as NYC agencies report numerous related service requests this year, though such accidents remain rare.