In New York City, a woman parked her car on Fifth Avenue, opened the door, and… fell into an open manhole. She was unable to be rescued.
The day before yesterday, May 18, 2026, at around 11:30 PM, 56-year-old Donike Gochay parked her Mercedes SUV on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 52nd Street in Midtown Manhattan. The Cartier flagship boutique was nearby. She got out of the car, closed the door, and fell into the manhole.
The manhole is approximately three meters deep. Manhattan has a vast network of utilities beneath its streets: electrical systems, sewer lines, gas, communications, and steam. Con Edison, the company that owned the manhole, specifically reports that there are over 100 miles of steam pipes beneath the city streets, so you can imagine the temperature inside.
According to one theory, 12 minutes earlier, a heavy truck had turned from Fifth Avenue onto 52nd Street. Its wheels rolled over a cast-iron Con Edison manhole cover, dislodging it—and the cover flew approximately four and a half meters away. A manhole formed, unnoticed and uncorroded.
The medical examiner is still determining the official cause of death. According to preliminary reports, the woman may have suffered cardiac arrest due to the steam. The NYPD does not suspect foul play, and the investigation is ongoing. Con Edison stated that heavy machinery dislodging manhole covers is rare, but possible.
Donike Gochay is survived by a son, a daughter, and two grandchildren.
This is a terrible situation. Please watch your step carefully if you’re walking around New York City.
