The final words of a grandmother who fell to her death after stepping out of her car into a dislodged manhole in Manhattan have been revealed. Witness Carlton Wood told ABC7 New York that he heard the woman screaming, 'I'm dying,' repeatedly as she lay trapped below the street.
The victim has been identified as 56-year-old Donike Gocaj. Around 11:20 p.m. Monday, she stepped out of her Mercedes-Benz SUV near a Cartier store on Fifth Avenue and fell into the manhole. Utility company Con Edison, which operates the manhole, said a large multi-axle truck had passed over the intersection about 12 minutes earlier, apparently dislodging the cover.
Witness Wood described the scene: 'She parked her car, stepped out of her car and dropped right into the manhole.' He noted that first responders arrived within minutes, but it took about 20 minutes to extract her. Another witness said a man tried to lower himself so she could grab his legs, while another brought a ladder that was too short.
Wood also reported that Gocaj appeared to be in a 'puddle of water,' possibly steaming hot, and suggested there might have been 'bad air down there.' Gocaj was rushed to New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Con Edison expressed condolences and stated, 'While this is a rare occurrence, manhole covers can get displaced by heavy vehicles. Safety remains our top priority.' The New York City Mayor's Office said, 'Every question must be asked and answered so that no New Yorker experiences a tragedy like this again.'
Gocaj is survived by a son, a daughter, and two grandchildren, who described her as a loving mother and grandmother.
