Brooklyn student with autism dies after choking while in school

COBBLE HILL (WABC) -- A student with autism at a school in Brooklyn died Tuesday after she was rushed to the hospital while choking on a muffin in class.

"Right now I'm so destroyed. I'm out of my mind," said Catherine Smith, the student's mother.

Catherine Smith has far more questions than answers about the death of her daughter.

21-year-old Dyasha Phelps Smith choked to death at the School for International Studies on Baltic Street in Brooklyn Tuesday afternoon.

"I can't understand how they could have so many people in a school and nobody could see that this child was choking to help her," Smith said.

"This is sad, this is sad, this could have been avoided," said Jacintha Davis, a former aide.

Smith's former aide visited the family late Tuesday night. Davis explained Smith had the mind of a 5-year-old and needed to be closely watched.

"I really can't believe over something simple a corn muffin that she choked and that she lost her life for that. These people weren't taking care of her," Davis said.

School Chancellor Carmen Farina said in a statement, "I am deeply saddened to hear of this loss, and my heart goes out to the student's family and the entire school community. We will have guidance counselors at the school to help support the community during this tragedy."

"I blame this school, this is carelessness, this is neglect, this child should not have died the way she died," Smith said.

The schools special commissioner of investigations has been notified to ensure all proper protocol was followed.

Sometimes students at the School for International Studies are older, due to the nature of enrollment.