NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Video appears to show a truck dislodging a manhole cover in Midtown minutes before a woman fell down the hole and died this week, Con Edison said.
The deadly fall happened around 11:15 p.m. Monday at 653 Fifth Ave. Investigators believe the 56-year-old woman had parked her Mercedes-Benz SUV and was exiting the vehicle when she accidentally stepped into the uncovered Con Edison manhole.
In a statement Tuesday, a spokesperson for Con Edison gave new details about what may have led up to the deadly fall.
“Following this tragic incident, we are continuing to investigate how this occurred,” the spokesperson said. “We have reviewed video footage from the area which suggests that the cover was dislodged after a multi-axle truck turning onto 52nd Street from 5th Avenue drove over it.”
“Approximately 12 minutes later, the person involved in the incident parked her car nearby,” the statement continued. “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 victim’s family has identified her as Donika Gocaj, of Briarcliff Manor. She was found unresponsive at the scene and pronounced dead at a hospital.
The chief medical examiner will determine her cause of death.
No arrests have been made, and no criminality is currently suspected, police said, as the investigation continues.
