The woman parked her Mercedes Benz SUV at West 52nd and Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan just before 11:20 p.m.
She stepped out of her car, directly into an uncovered manhole. The woman fell down about 10 feet.
She was rushed to New York Presbyterian Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Our sister station WABC-TV spoke to family members who said they are deeply saddened and extremely shocked. They want answers as to how this could have happened.
Con Edison is investigating why the manhole was left uncovered.
"We are deeply saddened to confirm that a member of the public has died after falling into an open manhole. We are actively investigating how this occurred. Our thoughts are with the individual's family, and safety remains our top priority," Con Edison said in a statement.