Official reports from Pennsylvania authorities or news outlets

Search Continues for Pennsylvania Grandmother Who Fell into 30-Foot Sinkhole While Looking for Cat

Dec 4, 2024, 05:41 AM

Authorities in Pennsylvania are engaged in a search and rescue operation for Elizabeth Pollard, a 64-year-old grandmother who is believed to have fallen into a 30-foot-deep sinkhole while searching for her missing cat, Pepper, in Unity Township, Westmoreland County. The search began after Pollard's family reported her missing around 1 a.m. on Tuesday, following her search for the cat on Monday evening. The sinkhole, located behind a restaurant, is connected to an abandoned coal mine, which has been deteriorating for years, complicating rescue efforts. Rescuers have found a shoe inside the hole, and the operation has extended into a second day with concerns about the safety of the mine structure. The area is known for subsidence due to past coal mining activity, making sinkholes a recurring issue. Her 5-year-old granddaughter was found safe in a car near the hole.