PA Woman Swallowed By Sinkhole: Cause Of Death Disclosed

GREENSBURG, PA — The cause of death has been determined for the 64-year-old Unity Township woman who fell into a 30-foot sinkhole last week.

Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson said in a preliminary autopsy report that Elizabeth Pollard died of head and torso injuries, Triblive reported. It's unknown whether she died in the fall or afterward.

Pollard disappeared Dec. 2 while apparently searching for her missing cat. Her car was located early Tuesday behind Monday's Union restaurant with her 5-year-old granddaughter in the vehicle.

An exhaustive and hazardous search of the abandoned mine into which Pollard plummeted turned up only a shoe until her body was discovered Dec. 6 about 12 feet from the sinkhole. Authorities said then it was unclear whether she fell or rolled that distance.