The woman fell after parking beside the uncovered opening near Fifth Avenue.
NEW YORK — Con Edison and New York City police are investigating after a 56-year-old woman fell into an uncovered maintenance hole near Fifth Avenue and died Monday night.
The woman had just parked a Mercedes-Benz SUV near West 52nd Street when she stepped out and fell directly into the opening, authorities said. The fall was about 10 feet. Emergency crews took her to New York-Presbyterian Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The incident happened shortly before 11:20 p.m. in Midtown Manhattan, a dense commercial area lined with storefronts, offices and hotels. Police said the woman was found unconscious and unresponsive inside the manhole. Officials did not immediately release her identity while notifications were pending.
Con Edison confirmed that the opening was tied to its infrastructure and said it had begun a review. “We are actively investigating how this occurred,” the company said in a statement. The utility also said its thoughts were with the woman’s family and that safety remains its top priority.
WABC reported that no construction was taking place at the site and that the manhole cover was found roughly 15 feet away. Those details are now central to the investigation, including when the cover was moved and whether anyone had been working in or near the maintenance hole.
Family members said they were shocked by the death and wanted answers. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner is expected to determine the official cause and manner of death. Police have not announced charges or said whether surveillance video from nearby buildings has been reviewed.
By Tuesday afternoon, the fatal fall remained under investigation by police and Con Edison. The main unanswered question was why the manhole was uncovered on a public Midtown street when the woman stepped from her vehicle.
Author note: Last updated May 19, 2026.