‘It’s been difficult:’ Unity sinkhole rescue effort turns into recovery mission

The rescue effort takes place on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, at the site of an abandoned coal mine near Monday’s Union Restaurant in Unity Township to search for Unity resident Elizabeth Pollard.

John Bacha, Pleasant Unity Volunteer Fire Department chief addresses a press conference at Monday’s Union Restaurant near the site of an abandoned coal mine on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. Rescuers are searching for Unity resident Elizabeth Pollard, who was reported missing and is believed to have fallen into a sinkhole.

Workers excavate the site of an old mine on Wednesday morning, Dec. 4, 2024, in Unity to search for Unity resident Elizabeth Pollard, who was reported missing early Tuesday. The site is on Marguerite Road near Monday’s Union Restaurant a few miles from the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport.

The search at the site of an abandoned mine near Monday’s Union Restaurant in Unity on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, for Unity resident Elizabeth Pollard, who was reported missing early Tuesday.

Workers excavate the site of an old mine on Wednesday morning, Dec. 4, 2024, in Unity to search for Unity resident Elizabeth Pollard, who was reported missing early Tuesday. The site is on Marguerite Road near Monday’s Union Restaurant a few miles from the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport.

Workers excavate the site of an old mine on Wednesday morning, Dec. 4, 2024, in Unity to search for Unity resident Elizabeth Pollard, who was reported missing early Tuesday more than 30 hours ago. The site is on Marguerite Road near Monday’s Union Restaurant a few miles from the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport.

A member of Pennsylvania Urban Search and Rescue team checks the sinkhole surrounding during a rescue mission on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 to search for Unity resident Elizabeth Pollard, near Monday’s Union Restaurant in Unity.

A crew from Pennsylvania Urban Search and Rescue team prepared to go underground around 3 a.m. Wednesday as a search continued through the night for Unity resident Elizabeth Pollard, near Monday’s Union Restaurant in Unity.

Pennsylvania State Trooper Steve Limani speaks during a news briefing about Elizabeth Pollard of Unity who is believed has fallen in to a sinkhole near Monday’s Union Restaurant.

Emergency responders set up in the parking lot of Monday’s Union Restaurant in Unity searched through the night Tuesday and into Wednesday for Unity resident Elizabeth Pollard, who authorities believe fell into a sinkhole near the restaurant.

Elizabeth Pollard, 64, of Unity. Pollard apparently fell down a sinkhole near Monday’s Union Restaurant in Unity while searching for a cat on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024.

A Pennsylvania Urban Search and Rescue crew geared up early Wednesday morning in front of Monday’s Union Restaurant in Unity, to search for resident Elizabeth Pollard, who authorities believe fell into a sinkhole.

The search at the site of an abandoned mine near Monday’s Union Restaurant in Unity on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, for Unity resident Elizabeth Pollard, who was reported missing early Tuesday.

A general view of Pennsylvania Urban Search and Rescue team rescue mission on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 that searches for Unity resident Elizabeth Pollard, near Monday’s Union Restaurant in Unity.

Pennsylvania State Trooper Steve Limani speaks during a news briefing about Elizabeth Pollard of Unity who is believed has fallen in to a sinkhole near Monday’s Union Restaurant.

The search at the site of an abandoned mine near Monday’s Union Restaurant in Unity on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, for Unity resident Elizabeth Pollard, who was reported missing early Tuesday.

John Bacha, Pleasant Unity Volunteer Fire Department chief addresses a press conference at Monday’s Union Restaurant near the site of an abandoned coal mine on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. Rescuers are searching for Unity resident Elizabeth Pollard, who was reported missing and is believed to have fallen into a sinkhole.

The rescue effort takes place on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, at the site of an abandoned coal mine near Monday’s Union Restaurant in Unity Township to search for Unity resident Elizabeth Pollard.