The search continues for a grandmother believed to have fallen into an old mine in Westmoreland County while searching for a cat.
Pennsylvania State Police, fire and rescue crews, along with the Bureau of Mine Safety have been searching for 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard for well over 24 hours. Pollard was last seen around 5 p.m. Monday searching for her cat Pepper, USA TODAY reported. Her family contacted state police at around 1 a.m. Tuesday morning to report that she had not come home.
Police found Pollard's car behind a nearby restaurant around 3 a.m. with her 5-year-old granddaughter safe inside, the agency reported. State troopers found a sinkhole in the area near the car, leading to suspicion that's where Pollard is.
The sinkhole drop is around 30 feet with an opening the size of a manhole cover, but first responders say they're optimistic she'll be found.
Pennsylvania State Trooper Clifford Greenfield gave an update during a news conference Wednesday where he revealed that more than 100 emergency personnel have been part of the efforts.
But the situation go complicated on Wednesday when due to deteriorating conditions in the mine, crews are no longer able to enter it with cameras and other technology.
"We’re moving forward, but we’re not sending rescuers into he mines, it is way too unstable,” said Pleasant Unity VFD Chief John Bacha. “The roof of the mine has collapsed in several places, its unstable, that’s the biggest problem.”
Crews are using equipment to try and stabilize the mine and while there is still hope Pollard will be found alive, officials recognize that time is of the essence.
PSP Communications Director Myles Snyder told USA TODAY a camera lowered into the hole revealed what appears to be a shoe, though it was not immediately known whether the shoe belongs to Pollard.