Girl, 8, dies after choking on hot dog at school

None — MERCER COUNTY, Pa. -- An 8-year-old girl who choked during lunchtime at a Mercer County school died Wednesday night.

Jamie Mattocks said her niece, Aizeya, was rushed to Children's Hospital after something went wrong when she was eating at Mercer Elementary School.

"She is the nicest. She's the sweetest little girl. Do anything for anyone. She's an amazing little girl -- her smile, her laugh," Mattocks said. "She was just in the lunchroom cafeteria yesterday at school, carrying on and laughing with friends and all of a sudden she started to choke and she fell."

Mattocks said Aizeya suffered heart and brain damage after choking on a hot dog.

Mercer School District Superintendent William Gathers said all lunchroom monitors are CPR trained and his staff helped Aizeya until paramedics arrived. Her family said they're thankful for their quick response.

"They were there right on top of everything. They did everything they could have done in a timely manner," said Mattocks.

Superintendent Bill Gaither said a group of counselors were made available on Thursday for students and teachers at Mercer Elementary School.

Gaither also said the school’s cafeteria director removed hot dogs from the lunch menu for safety and emotional reasons.

“I’ve already spoken to the cafeteria director and she has removed the hot dogs,” Gaither said. “We won’t be serving them anymore.”

Amanda Simitoski was one of the many parents who said their child is coping with a classmate’s death.

“My daughter took it pretty well,” Simitoski said. “She asked me what her parents would think and I just told her that Aizeya is in a better place.”

WPXI