Elizabeth Pollard, 64, had not been heard from since Monday, when authorities believe she fell into a sinkhole that ended up being an old mine shaft in Unity Township, Pennsylvania.

Summary

Elizabeth Pollard, a 64-year-old Pennsylvania grandmother, was found dead 30 feet below the surface after falling into a sinkhole connected to a decades-old mine shaft while searching for her cat.

The four-day search shifted from rescue to recovery as hopes of finding her alive diminished. Pollard’s car was discovered nearby with her 5-year-old granddaughter inside, unharmed despite freezing temperatures.

Authorities plan to stabilize the area to prevent future sinkhole incidents, as abandoned mines pose ongoing risks in southwestern Pennsylvania.

    • grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
      13·
      5 days ago

      Synonym of “pilings.” Long rods of material, not heaps of it. Like what you build to support a boat dock.

      That said, I’m not so sure that pilings are the right solution there. That kind of foundation is used when the ground is muddy/unstable/subject to liquefaction – when it doesn’t always have good bearing strength, so they rely on friction against the sides of the piles to support the weight instead.

      But when the ground has actual voids in it (karst topography, or in this case, a bunch of old mines), you’re just driving the pilings into air and there’s no friction to be found. I think it’s more likely they do try to fill at least the nearby part of the cavity with some substance, like concrete.