A 56-year-old woman lost her life Monday night after falling into an exposed utility hole on a busy Manhattan street, according to police and utility company officials who are now investigating the tragic incident.
Authorities report the woman had positioned her Mercedes-Benz SUV directly beside the uncovered opening at Fifth Avenue and East 52nd Street in Midtown Manhattan when she stepped out of her vehicle and fell into the hole just before 11:30 p.m. Medical personnel later declared her dead at a nearby hospital.
Officials have not yet explained why the opening lacked proper covering at the time of the accident.
Con Edison, the utility company responsible for the area, announced it is conducting a full investigation into the incident.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm that a member of the public has died after falling into an open manhole,” the company said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the individual’s family, and safety remains our top priority.”
Family members speaking to WABC-TV expressed their devastation over the loss and said they are demanding additional details about what led to the tragedy.
Police officials reported that emergency responders discovered the woman unconscious at the bottom of the opening after receiving a 911 emergency call. The city’s chief medical examiner’s office will conduct an investigation to establish the official cause of death.
