A heartbreaking search for a missing pet in Pennsylvania ended in tragedy after a grandmother reportedly fell through a sinkhole into an abandoned mine, leading her family to file a wrongful death lawsuit against a restaurant and a steel company.
The victim, Elizabeth Pollard, 64, died after falling nearly 20 feet into a sinkhole while searching for a lost cat with her granddaughter, according to court documents.
Her family now claims that Monday’s Union Restaurant and U.S. Steel failed to address known dangers linked to abandoned underground mine tunnels beneath the property.
Grandmother Searching for Cat Before Tragic Fall
The incident happened on the night of December 2, 2024, in Latrobe, a borough located about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh.
According to the lawsuit, Pollard was outside Monday’s Union Restaurant with her granddaughter, searching for a family pet cat that had gone missing.
As she stepped out of her vehicle and began looking around the property, the ground beneath her suddenly gave way.
Sinkhole Opened Above Abandoned Mine
Court documents state Pollard fell nearly 20 feet into a sinkhole that had formed above abandoned underground mine workings.
The lawsuit claims the area was highly vulnerable to collapse because of decades of previous mining activity.
Family members argue that both the restaurant and U.S. Steel either knew—or should have known—about the dangerous conditions beneath the property and taken steps to protect visitors.
According to the complaint, the defendants allegedly failed to warn people about the risk or secure the area against potential collapse.
Recovery Effort Lasted Four Days
Rescue crews spent several days searching the underground mine before Pollard’s body was recovered four days later.
Authorities reportedly found her body approximately 12 feet from the original collapse point.
The tragic recovery brought emotional pain to Pollard’s family, who say the loss has devastated multiple generations.
Family Demands Answers and Accountability
The family’s attorney, Mark Malone, said the lawsuit is about more than financial compensation.
According to Malone, the family wants accountability and hopes legal action will help prevent another tragedy.
He also stated that U.S. Steel operated the mine until 1953 and may still own mineral rights beneath the property, despite mining operations ending decades ago.
Lawsuit Claims Property Was Unsafe
The lawsuit alleges the defendants were responsible for maintaining safe parking areas, walking paths, and travel routes throughout the property.
Family members claim proper inspections, warnings, or protective measures could have prevented Pollard’s death.
When asked for comment, U.S. Steel reportedly said it was reviewing the lawsuit. Monday’s Union Restaurant has not publicly commented.
Remembering Elizabeth Pollard
According to her obituary, Pollard is survived by her husband, three sons, her granddaughter, five brothers, and many nieces and nephews.
Her family remembers her as someone who loved flower gardening, crafts, and especially her cats.
