A 56-year-old woman died Monday night after falling into an open manhole in Midtown Manhattan, according to authorities.
The woman, who was from Briarcliff, had parked her Mercedes-Benz SUV near West 52nd Street and Fifth Avenue shortly before 11:20 p.m. Police said she stepped out of the vehicle and fell directly into an uncovered manhole that was about 10 feet deep.
Emergency crews responded and pulled her from the opening before transporting her to New York-Presbyterian Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Authorities said the manhole was steaming at the time of the incident.
The woman’s identity and official cause of death had not been released pending confirmation from the medical examiner’s office.
Family members told Eyewitness News they were devastated and shocked by the accident and were seeking answers about how the manhole had been left uncovered.
Officials said there was no construction activity underway in the area at the time. The manhole cover was later found about 15 feet from the opening.
Energy delivery company Con Edison said it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm that a member of the public has died after falling into an open manhole,” the utility company said in a statement. “We are actively investigating how this occurred. Our thoughts are with the individual’s family, and safety remains our top priority.”
