business
Family of Donike Goncaj, grandmother killed after falling into open New York City manhole, accuses utility company of negligence in lawsuit
By KTRK at ABC13 Houston (KTRK)
· July 17, 2026
· 1 min read
The family of Donike Goncaj, a grandmother killed after falling into an open New York City manhole, accuses a utility company of negligence in a wrongful death lawsuit.
Why this matters in The Piney Point
In Piney Point Village , residents may be surprised to learn that the issue of open manholes is not unique to New York City. While the specifics of the Donike Goncaj case are troubling, the incident raises questions about the maintenance and upkeep of infrastructure in local communities. As a suburb of Houston, Piney Point Village has its own set of challenges when it comes to ensuring public safety, particularly in areas with aging infrastructure. The lawsuit against the utility company in New York City may prompt local officials to review their own protocols for inspecting and maintaining manholes and other underground infrastructure. This could lead to a re-examination of the village's own infrastructure and potentially inform new policies or procedures to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the Houston area.
About this story
Original reporting by ABC13 Houston (KTRK) . The Piney Point surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit ABC13 Houston (KTRK) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: business ·
Published: July 17, 2026 ·
Source: ABC13 Houston (KTRK) ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? The family of Donike Goncaj, a grandmother killed after falling into an open New York City manhole, accuses a utility company of negligence in a wrongful death lawsuit.
When was this published? This article was first published on July 17, 2026 by ABC13 Houston (KTRK) and curated for The Piney Point readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by KTRK at ABC13 Houston (KTRK). To learn more about how The Piney Point selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more business coverage from The Piney Point, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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