A grandma in Pennsylvania appeared to have fallen into a sinkhole that was at least 30 feet deep while looking for her cat, prompting a search and rescue operation on Tuesday.
According to officials at a news conference, 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard has not been heard from since Monday, when she is thought to have fallen into the manhole-sized hole in Unity Township, about 40 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.
According to Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Company Chief John Bacha, after lowering rover and pole cameras into the disused coal mine, investigators noticed what seemed to be a shoe but heard no noises.
Bacha noted the location of the sinkhole and remarked, “It’s a modern shoe, not something you’d find in a coal mine in Marguerite in 1940.”
Authorities are quite certain that we are now acting appropriately and at the appropriate location, he continued.
Pollard may or may not have a phone. Officials have not been able to get in touch with Limani.
According to Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Steve Limani, officials found out that Pollard was missing when a relative called 911 at around one in the morning on Tuesday, stating that they hadn’t heard from her since she had gone to seek for her cat the afternoon before.
According to Limani, troopers found her automobile behind a nearby eatery. According to the trooper, her 5-year-old granddaughter had been inside since 5 p.m. the day before.
Limani remarked, “Thank God she stayed in the car,” adding that the girl was in good health despite the extremely cold weather.
The sinkhole, according to Limani, was about 15 to 20 feet from Pollard’s car, and one of the troopers looking for him almost fell into it.
There were dozens of people called to the scene, including search and rescue, a mining specialist, an excavation crew, and other first responders. “It became an all-hands-on-deck scenario,” he added.
Bacha stated that authorities must react cautiously due to the shaft’s unknown status. He added that although if the opening’s circle is only as big as a manhole, it soon gets much broader and more difficult to pass through.
With temperatures that are warmer than above ground and stable oxygen levels, Bacha continued, the circumstances seem positive for the time being.
Limani stated that he is still optimistic that a rescue would occur at the end of the expedition.
“That’s how we’re going to continue to conduct ourselves,” he stated.
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