From the AP

NEW YORK – New York City police say three workers trying to clean a sewer got trapped down a manhole and died.

Firefighters had been attempting to rescue the workers, but authorities believe they were already dead when they arrived. The three worked for a private contractor.

Officials say two of the workers apparently went into the manhole to check it out. When they didn’t return, the third worker went in.

 A fire department spokesman says firefighters were alerted at 2:30 p.m. Monday and sent rescue units to the site in the Jamaica neighborhood