Crews resumed their search early Thursday for a woman presumed to have perished after falling into a sinkhole above an old coal mine in Pennsylvania. Elizabeth Pollard, aged 64, is believed to have dropped into the sinkhole roughly three days ago in a location where search efforts are now concentrated.

A small team, which includes state troopers and excavation specialists, returned to the site to continue the search for Pollard. Authorities stated late Wednesday that they hold little hope of finding her alive. She was last seen on Monday evening, when she went out to find her missing cat, Pepper. About ten hours later, her vehicle was located close to her residence in Marguerite, with her five-year-old granddaughter found safe inside.

After a light snowfall covered the area, crews have been maneuvering heavy machinery, such as bulldozers and cranes, around the sinkhole. Officials from the state police indicated that a further update on the rescue operation may be shared later in the day.

Trooper Steve Limani, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania State Police, communicated to reporters that overnight search operations would not continue due to the lack of signs of life and concerns about the safety of the rescue team.

The sinkhole is situated near the Union Restaurant in Marguerite, a community located approximately 40 miles east of Pittsburgh. Pollard’s car was recovered about 20 feet away from the sinkhole, which investigators believe may have formed just before she walked over an area experiencing mine subsidence.

The search for Pollard has faced significant challenges due to hazardous conditions inside the mine, which include muddy water and unstable ground. The mine has been inactive for approximately 70 years, and emergency crews are working in areas supported by old wooden beams, some of which have already collapsed.