The final words of a grandmother who fell to her death after stepping out of her car in Manhattan and plummeting down a dislodged manhole have been revealed. The 56-year-old victim, identified as Donike Gocaj, was heard screaming 'I'm dying' repeatedly as she lay trapped in the hole, according to an eyewitness.
Witness Account
Carlton Wood, who witnessed the incident, told ABC7 New York: 'I saw a woman stepping out of her car, and as soon as she stepped out, it's like she took one step forward and just disappeared.' Wood added, 'She was screaming, 'I'm dying,' that's what I kept hearing her screaming over and over. She wasn't distracted, she didn't walk onto a construction site, I mean, she parked her car, stepped out of her car and dropped right into the manhole.'
Incident Details
The accident occurred around 11:20 p.m. Monday night near a Cartier store on Fifth Avenue and 52nd Street. Gocaj had just parked her Mercedes-Benz SUV when she stepped out and fell into the uncovered manhole. Utility company Con Edison, which operates the manhole, reported that a large multi-axle truck had passed through the intersection approximately 12 minutes earlier. Video footage reviewed by the company showed the truck's weight appeared to dislodge the cover.
'We are reviewing the details, and while this is a rare occurrence, manhole covers can get displaced by heavy vehicles,' a Con Edison spokesperson said. 'Our thoughts remain with her family, and safety remains our top priority.'
Rescue Attempts
Witness Wood described the chaotic rescue efforts. One man tried to lower himself into the hole so Gocaj could grab his legs, but the attempt failed. Another man brought a ladder that was too short to reach her. Meanwhile, Gocaj appeared to be lying in a 'puddle of water,' which Wood described as 'maybe steaming hot water.' He added, 'So I'm not sure, but I'm assuming maybe she was burning up down there. Bad air down there.'
Although first responders arrived within minutes, it took about 20 minutes to extract Gocaj from the hole. She was rushed to New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Family and Official Response
Loved ones described Gocaj as a loving mother to a son and daughter and a devoted grandmother to two grandchildren. The New York City Mayor's Office expressed condolences, stating, 'Our condolences are with the family of the woman who lost her life in this devastating incident. City agencies are working with Con Ed to support the emergency response and conduct a full investigation into what occurred. Every question must be asked and answered so that no New Yorker experiences a tragedy like this again.'
The Independent has contacted Con Edison for further comment.
