December 3rd 2024.
It's believed that Elizabeth Pollard, a beloved grandmother, fell into a sinkhole while searching for her missing cat, Pepper. The 64-year-old was last seen on Monday afternoon, accompanied by her granddaughter, who is only five years old. According to WPXI, the family became concerned when they hadn't heard from Pollard and contacted the Pennsylvania State Police around 1am on Tuesday.
In the early hours of the morning, around 3am, troopers found Pollard's car parked behind a restaurant in Latrobe. Thankfully, her granddaughter was safe and told them that she was waiting for her grandma. Over 100 people have joined in the search effort for the missing grandmother.
As troopers began searching the area, they discovered a sinkhole near Pollard's vehicle. It's believed that the sinkhole formed when she walked over to search for her cat. While the hole wasn't very wide, it was quite deep and layers deep. Trooper Steve Limani explained to the TV station, "Once you get below the surface, the hole gets significantly wider."
The sinkhole was located about 15 to 20 feet from Pollard's car and was found to be at the site of an old coal mine. Despite using a camera to go down about 30 feet, crews still needed to dig further to continue the search. So far, no sounds have been heard from inside the sinkhole.
Pleasant Unity Fire Chief John Bacha said, "We've used a lot of resources and technology," in the search effort. However, a camera did capture an image of what appears to be a shoe. According to Bacha, oxygen levels and temperature inside the sinkhole are good, which is a positive sign.
Approximately 100 people, including officials from the Pennsylvania Bureau of Mines, have joined in the search effort. Marguerite Fire Chief Scot Graham stated, "We are still in rescue mode." The Unity Township Board of Advisors has even declared a disaster emergency, allowing emergency responders to acquire necessary equipment without bidding, as Chairman Mike O'Barto explained.
This unfortunate event occurred just six months after a 20-month-old boy playing on a splash pad in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, was nearly swallowed by a sinkhole. Thankfully, his mother was able to rescue him before he fell through. Our thoughts and prayers are with Elizabeth Pollard and her family as the search continues.
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