???A motor vehicle accident was not the cause of death of 19-year-old UB freshman Jonah Dreskin, according to the Office of Student Affairs, which released a statement on Tuesday refuting many of the initial claims concerning Dreskin's death.
???According to the press release, a motor vehicle accident or criminal activity are not believed to be linked to the student's March 5 death.
As details of the case became clearer, authorities have begun to piece together the sequence of events leading up to Dreskin's death.
???Dreskin and four other students were cited by the University Police Department for allegedly smoking marijuana outside the Millard Fillmore Academic Center shortly after 11 p.m. on March 4, approximately one hour before Dreskin was found injured on Core Road near the Ellicott Complex.
???Authorities responded to an emergency call to Core Road around midnight and found Dreskin unconscious at the scene. He suffered internal injuries and was pronounced dead at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital at approximately 1 a.m. on March 5.
???"We don't really have reason to believe it was foul play or anything like that," said Gerald Schoenle, chief of university police. "The medical examiner has stated that the injuries are consistent with serious blunt trauma injuries. This rules out an assault, but not a fall or an accident."
???On Tuesday, Schoenle said that investigators still have not received a toxicology report. The exact cause of death is not yet known as university police officials await test results from the Erie County Medical Examiner.
???"It takes a couple weeks to get [the results] back and analyzed," Schoenle said.
???A Web site called "Remembering Jonah" was assembled by friends and family of Dreskin, according to Katie Dreskin, his sister. The site includes information and stories about Dreskin, and the eulogy read at his funeral, she said. Local media coverage of Dreskin's death can also be found at http://kutz.urjcamps.org/rememberingjonah.
???Dreskin was reportedly on the 10th floor of the Spaulding Residence Hall at approximately 11:40 p.m. when he went to his room to drop off his belongings.
???The investigation is currently ongoing and university police will continue to release new information as it becomes available.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
