UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The search for a woman believed to have fallen into a sinkhole is now being considered a recovery mission, Pennsylvania State Police say.
Elizabeth Pollard, 64, went missing around 5 p.m. Tuesday while looking for her cat in Unity Township. Her granddaughter was found by police in her vehicle around 10 hours later, unharmed.
PHOTOS: Rescuers continue searching for missing grandmother in abandoned mine
It is believed Pollard fell through a nearby sinkhole, which crews determined was a very thin layer of earth -- mainly just grass -- where she stepped.
Engineers with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Mining have been in the area of Monday’s Union Restaurant on Marguerite Road. They determined Wednesday morning the integrity of the underground structure started to become compromised. The water being pushed through the mines was intended to help break down the materials, but it had caused a disruption and distress to the structure.
Pennsylvania Trooper Steve Limani said Wednesday evening that crews will continue to work dawn through dusk to “find [Pollard] and get her to her family.” Part of that includes changing strategies as the condition of the mine deteriorates, including an additional day of just digging.
“Unless it’s a miracle, most likely this is recovery,” Limani said.
In an update around noon on Wednesday, Pleasant Unity Fire Chief John Bacha said the roof of the mine collapsed in several places and it is unstable. They had a vacuum truck to remove a lot of dirt to excavate. They’ve gone to the spot they thought she was, but there are no signs.
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He said the shoe that was spotted on a camera yesterday was never recovered and nothing else has been found.
Limani said there have been no signs of life that would lead crews to have an aggressive approach to the rescue.
“We feel like we failed. It’s tough,” Limani said.
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