A woman has died after stepping out of her car and falling 10 ft (three metres) down an uncovered maintenance hole on Fifth Avenue in New York City, police have said.
Officers responded to an emergency call in Manhattan and found the woman unconscious and unresponsive down the manhole just before midnight on Monday.
The woman, identified by police as Donike Gocaj, 56, of Briarcliff Manor, New York, was taken to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead, the New York Police Department said.
The utility company told US media that, after reviewing video footage, they believe the cover of the manhole was dislodged by a truck.
Approximately 12 minutes later, the person involved in the incident parked her car nearby, a spokesperson for utility company Con Edison stated.
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 spokesperson added.
Gocaj's family reported that there were no cones, warning signs, or barriers around the maintenance hole, leaving them shocked and seeking answers about the incident.
The city medical examiner's office will determine the cause of death, while an ongoing investigation is being conducted by the police, who reported that no criminal activity is suspected at this time.
Urban infrastructure concerns were further accentuated as the NYC Department of Environmental Protection manages thousands of manholes, and has received over 700 service requests regarding open manholes this year alone.
