Horrific manhole collapse accident in New York: Victim’s family determined to seek justice to the very end
In a tragic incident that has spotlighted ongoing infrastructure safety concerns in New York City, the family of Donike Gocaj, a 56-year-old grandmother from Briarcliff Manor, Westchester, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Consolidated Edison (ConEd). The suit, filed in New York Supreme Court in mid-July 2026, comes nearly two months after Gocaj fell into an uncovered ConEd manhole in Midtown Manhattan on May 18, 2026.
Gocaj had just parked her Mercedes-Benz SUV near East 52nd Street and Fifth Avenue, outside the iconic Cartier store, when she stepped out and plummeted approximately 10 feet into the open utility hole. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as she screamed “I’m dying,” while bystanders and her longtime boyfriend, Jashar “Jack” Kameraj, desperately tried to rescue her. Kameraj himself suffered severe burns and inhalation injuries while attempting to reach her, leaving him bedridden. Gocaj was eventually pulled from the hole but succumbed to scald burns with inhalational thermal injury and blunt force trauma to the torso, according to the city medical examiner’s ruling of accidental death.
Con Edison has stated that surveillance video showed a multi-axle truck dislodging the manhole cover about 12-15 minutes before Gocaj arrived. No construction was underway at the time, and the cover was later found displaced nearby. The utility company maintains responsibility for securing such access points amid heavy vehicle traffic in one of the world’s busiest areas.
The lawsuit alleges negligence on ConEd’s part, claiming the company failed to implement adequate safety measures despite knowing that manhole covers can be dislodged by passing vehicles. Attorneys for the family argue that stronger locking systems, real-time monitoring, and secondary safety barriers could prevent such tragedies. They point to a broader pattern: complaints about defective or missing manhole covers to the city’s 311 system nearly doubled in early 2026 compared to the previous year, with over 700 reports in the first few months alone. This rise reflects a multi-year upward trend in reported hazards across the city’s vast network of hundreds of thousands of manholes.
Gocaj, a dedicated mother and grandmother who had raised her children alone after losing her husband years earlier, worked multiple cleaning jobs to provide for her family. Her death has left a profound void. The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for her children, partner, and estate, emphasizing systemic failures that endanger pedestrians in a city reliant on aging underground infrastructure for steam, electricity, and utilities.
This case underscores larger questions about urban maintenance in New York. While utility companies respond to complaints and conduct investigations, advocates argue proactive inspections and upgraded equipment are needed to match the density and pace of city life. Con Edison has expressed condolences and stated it will respond through the legal process, while continuing to prioritize safety.
As the lawsuit progresses, it may bring renewed scrutiny to how utilities manage risks in high-traffic zones. For Gocaj’s loved ones, the legal action represents not just a quest for accountability, but a demand that no other family endures such preventable heartbreak on the streets of New York.
