Photo: Alex Milan / iStock / Getty Images
Authorities said that a grandmother who fell into a sinkhole is likely dead as crews try to recover her body. Elizabeth Pollard, a 64-year-old grandmother from Pennsylvania, is believed to have fallen into a 30-foot sinkhole while searching for her cat in Unity Township, about 40 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. The incident occurred on Monday (December 2), and authorities have since shifted their efforts from rescue to recovery due to the challenging conditions in the sinkhole, which is connected to an old coal mine.
Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Steve Limani stated that the oxygen levels in the mine are dangerously low, making survival unlikely. Pollard was last seen around 5 p.m. on Monday, and her car was found near a restaurant with her five-year-old granddaughter inside, unharmed despite freezing temperatures.
Rescue crews have been working tirelessly, using cameras and sound devices to search for signs of life, but none have been detected. The fragile state of the mine, exacerbated by water used to soften the ground, has complicated the search efforts. Authorities plan to dig a massive hole to access the area safely.
The sinkhole, which has an opening about the size of a manhole, is believed to have formed due to historic mine subsidence. The mine last operated in 1952, and the area has been deemed unsafe, with police maintaining round-the-clock surveillance. Despite the difficult circumstances, Limani emphasized, "We're not quitting. We are going to continue to work through this."
Authorities have had emotional conversations with Pollard's family about the situation, and the search is expected to continue as weather permits.