Mourning, recovery continues in Marlborough
By Doug Grindle Community Reporter

Marlborough - Marlborough continues to mourn the death of a young boy who choked while on his way home from school on a bus at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 30.

Darnell Cobb, a kindergarten student at the Francis J. Kane Elementary School, was on a bus traveling north on Maple Street 200 yards away from the Marlborough Central Fire Station when he was seen to be in distress.

His schoolmates alerted the bus driver that he was choking.

"She was alerted by the student adjacent to him," said Karen Kisty, executive aide to Mayor Nancy Stevens.

The bus driver traveled closer to the fire station, pulled over and notified the emergency service members, who responded immediately, city officials said.

Darnell was taken to UMass Memorial Marlborough Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Teams were immediately on hand to render aid assistance to staff and students at the Kane School. Assistant Superintendent of Schools James Jolicoeur, Kane School Principal John Collins and School Nurse Sally Williams attended personally to the students on the bus.

A police cruiser was dispatched to take Darnell's mother to the hospital, Kisty said.

The city said it is concentrating for now on grief counseling for the students, families and city workers involved. Eff orts are being coordinated by the mayor's office.

"Right now my focus is on helping the family and the students and staff of our schools get through this tragedy," Stevens said.

City officials said they do not know yet what Darnell may have choked on, and the autopsy report had not yet been issued.