Family Sues Con Edison Over Grandma’s Fatal Manhole Fall

The family of a New York grandmother who died after plunging into an uncovered, steam-filled manhole in Manhattan is taking Con Edison to court. Donike Gocaj, 56, was killed in May after stepping into the open utility hole near Fifth Avenue, while her longtime partner, Jashar “Jack” Kameraj, allegedly suffered serious burns trying to pull her to safety. Gocaj repeatedly screamed, “I’m dying, I’m dying,” as Kameraj tried to climb into the manhole to rescue her. Family attorney Howard Hershenhorn told the New York Post many people tried to save Gocaj. “It was a frantic scene, right there with everybody trying to save her because they could see her through the hole. They could hear her through the hole, but they could not help her,” he said. Gocaj later died from scald burns, inhalational thermal injuries and blunt force trauma after becoming trapped inside the steam-filled hole. The wrongful death lawsuit argues Con Edison knew for years that heavy traffic could knock loose its manhole covers but failed to install stronger safeguards or warning systems to protect pedestrians. Hershenhorn also cited thousands of city complaints involving hazardous manholes, calling Gocaj’s death evidence of a broader safety problem rather than an isolated accident. Con Edison offered condolences to the family but said it could not comment on the allegations because the case is now in litigation.

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