Posted five hours ago
An active search is underway for a 64-year-old woman who may have fallen into a sinkhole while looking for her missing cat in Unity Township, Westmoreland County. We’re expecting to get an update from
@PSPTroopAPIO
at noon An excavator was brought in
PSP got a phone call after 1 am that Elizabeth Pollard’s family that she went to look for her cat yesterday afternoon and never returned
While troopers were doing investigation, they found Pollard’s vehicle. Troopers approached and found her 5y/o granddaughter. The vehicle was not running. 5y/o was okay despite the temps being in the 20s
The little girl was in the car from about 5 pm until 3 am, Limani said. There was a hole “about the size of a manhole” and then it was “all hands on deck”
Limani said at one point they had about 100 people working to find Pollard There is an excavator on site moving dirt They’re hoping for a rescue
Scot Graham says “we are still in rescue mode” He’s the Marguerite Fire Chief Says they’re working with the bureau of mines
John Bacha is the fire chief for Pleasant Unity. He says this area has a lot of mines. They did a quick look and realized they needed confined space rescue techs on scene Said they couldn’t get close to the hole at first
Bacha says local municipal leaders issued an emergency disaster declaration
Mike O’Barto, the chair of the Unity Township Board of Supervisors says they put a resolution together declaring a disaster emergency It gives the township and EMS the chance to get any equipment they need without dealing with a bidding process. “Do whatever it takes.”
Ligonier Construction is working to help excavate and dig. Limani says the sinkhole was most likely created when Pollard was walking around, not prior to her walking looking for her cat
The 5y/o is with her parents and is fine Family is asking for privacy
They’ve interviewed the 5y/o too, Limani says
The hole isn’t very wide but it is deep. Because of the mining that had been done, Limani says it is difficult for the operation “Once you get below the surface, the hole gets significantly wider.”
The mining expert is working alongside the crews moving dirt, Limani says
Troopers don’t feel a reason they should be looking elsewhere. They’ve used drones to look in woods, but the hole was new … 15-20 feet from Pollard’s vehicle
Limani says the 5y/o didn’t have any information, and was just waiting in the car for her grandma “Thank god she stayed in the car” - Limani
Bacha — “we’ve used a lot of resources and a lot of technology” They’ve used cameras and listening devices— no sounds picked up One camera they did find what appears to be a shoe. Modern shoe, not left behind in mine from 1940
Bacha says oxygen levels in the hole are good. It’s warmer down there.
Press conference is over. We’ll keep you updated on
@WPXI .. here is some video of the excavation work
Posted 4 hours ago
#BREAKING: State Police confirm this is Elizabeth Pollard, who they believe fell into a sinkhole behind Monday’s Union Restaurant while looking for her cat
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