She Stepped Out of Her Mercedes, Right Into a Manhole

A late-night stop along one of Manhattan's busiest shopping corridors ended in tragedy on Monday when a woman fell into an open manhole and died, police say. PIX11 and NBC New York report that the 56-year-old had just parked her car around 11:20pm near 653 Fifth Avenue, in front of a Cartier store, when she stepped out and dropped into the uncovered utility opening, according to NYPD sources. Officers responding to a 911 call found her in the manhole; she was taken by EMS to a nearby hospital and later pronounced dead.

Authorities haven't released the name of the woman, who WABC notes fell about 10 feet down the manhole after emerging from her Mercedes-Benz SUV. Con Edison says it's "actively investigating," including why the manhole was left open. No arrests have been made.