New York 6-Year-Old Dies in Accident with Scissors

A 6-year-old Verona Beach girl died Friday night when she fell from a chair while reaching for a pair of scissors and was struck in the neck by the falling blades.

State police said late Saturday that the tragedy was set in motion around 9 p.m. Friday when the child, Kayleigh C. Cochis, of 6762 Lakeshore Road N., found chewing gum stuck in her hair.

Investigator Dennis Dougherty said Kayleigh went to get scissors from the top of the refrigerator in her home to cut out the gum.

She was standing on a rolling, office-style chair trying to reach the scissors, Dougherty said. The chair moved and she lost her balance and fell, he said. As she fell, the scissors punctured her neck, Dougherty said.

Kayleigh's parents, Christopher and Christine Cochis, and her 5-year-old brother were all in the house but no one saw the girl fall, Dougherty said.

Fire and ambulance crews were called and the girl was taken to Oneida Healthcare Center, where she was pronounced dead at 10:38 p.m., Dougherty said.

"I've got five kids of my own. ..." said Investigator David Verne earlier in the day. "This one would really wrench you."

The investigation is continuing but the death appears accidental, Dougherty said.

Family members could not be reached Saturday night.

Cochis was a pupil at Sylvan-Verona Beach Elementary School.

"We are deeply, deeply saddened by the tragedy," the school's principal, Moira Yardley, said Saturday. "Our hearts go out to the family."

Yardley said counseling will be available for pupils on Monday.

Robert A. Baker can be reached at 470-2182.

News stories provided by third parties are not edited by "Site Publication" staff. For suggestions and comments, please click the Contact link at the bottom of this page.