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Woman who fell into Con Ed manhole in NYC died from scald burns, blunt force trauma
By
Michael Sol Warren
Published May 21, 2026
Modified May 21, 2026
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Charly Triballeau / AFP via Getty Images
By
Michael Sol Warren
Published May 21, 2026
Modified May 21, 2026
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A woman who fell into an open Con Edison manhole in Midtown earlier this week died from heat injuries and blunt force trauma, city medical examiners said Thursday.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined Donike Gocaj, 56, died of “scald burns with inhalational thermal injury and blunt force trauma of [the] torso,” according to a spokesperson.
The office ruled her manner of death an accident.
Gocaj died after falling about 10 feet down the manhole near Fifth Avenue and East 52nd Street on Monday night, police said.
NYPD officials said she had just gotten out of her parked car when she plunged into the opening, and no construction was happening in the intersection at the time.
First responders called to the scene around 11:15 p.m. found Gocaj unconscious. She was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
A spokesperson for Con Ed on Thursday said the utility company did not have any updates on its investigation into the incident.
The company previously said video footage indicated a “multi-axle truck” had dislodged the manhole cover about 12 minutes before Gocaj parked her car on the street. Spokespeople described the incident as a “rare occurrence."
This story has been updated with additional information.
Tagged
con edison
manhattan
manholes
midtown
new york city
public safety
Michael Sol Warren
Michael Sol Warren covers New Jersey for WNYC and Gothamist, and previously reported on issues around the Garden State for NJ Spotlight News and NJ Advance Media. He can be reached at [email protected].
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