A freak accident in midtown Manhattan claimed the life of a 56-year-old woman just before midnight Tuesday, authorities say. Police say the woman stepped into an open manhole when she closed her car door to exit after parking on the side of 52nd Street, near the Cartier store on Fifth Avenue. The hole was about 10 feet deep. Emergency crews quickly worked to get her out. She was pronounced dead at a hospital. Her identity and cause of death are pending confirmation from the medical examiner’s office. It’s not clear why the manhole was unsealed. Con Edison says it is “actively investigating.” “We are deeply saddened to confirm that a member of the public has died after falling into an open manhole,” a spokesperson for the utility said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the individual’s family, and safety remains our top priority.” Authorities say the manhole was steaming at the time the woman fell. Her car was seen cordoned off alongside the re-sealed manhole overnight. The street reopened early Tuesday. New Yorkers and tourists alike say the tragedy has unlocked a new fear for them. They want answers and accountability. One woman who says she was at the scene when it happened said her mother heard a scream, then she saw paramedics get the victim out. She says she doesn’t understand how such a thing could happen. According to 311 data, there were 62 missing manhole complaints between May 1 and May 17. Some of them are duplicates. The data show some complaints have been fixed, some were unfounded, some have incomplete information, and some require further investigation. ...read more read less