A worker at a Smithtown Dunkin' Donuts died yesterday after falling into an eight-foot deep cesspool behind the store. Amiri Zeqiri, 17, had been taking out the garbage past 9 p.m. when he fell through what was described as an "open manhole" by Newsday (subscription required).

Zeqiri's 14-year-old cousin went looking for him when he did return. Newsday reports, "Police said the cousin, realizing he could not get Zeqiri out of the cesspool, ran to a nearby store for help. When he returned, police said, Zeqiri was no longer visible." And according to WABC 7, "About 75 police and firefighters responded to the scene and pulled Zeqiri out and rushed him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead."

The police say there usually was a manhole cover over the cesspool opening. There have been various cesspool deaths and rescues in recent years.