Death of man found near school ruled an accident

A man initially believed to have been struck and killed by a car has now officially been determined to have died from an accident, according to the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office. However, investigators are still not sure what type of accident, Spokane County Sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Craig Chamberlin said. “We are still trying to determine the exact cause of the accident,” Chamberlin said. “Detective Mike Ricketts is still investigating this.” Michael E. Dressel, 48, was found dead at 5:30 a.m. on Feb. 19. The body was located on a sidewalk near Evergreen Elementary School by a Spokesman-Review newspaper carrier. Dressel had blood on his body and Spokane County Sheriff’s detectives initially investigated the case as a homicide. They called for help from the public locating a Pontiac seen driving in the area. After locating that driver and checking the car, investigators ruled out the possibility that the car was responsible for the head, chest and extremity wounds that caused Dressel’s death. After further investigation, the Medical Examiner’s office today listed “accident” as the manner of death. According to his obituary, Dressel worked 25 years for Honeywell Electronics after graduating from Shadle Park High School in 1983. He is survived by his son, Michael Dressel, brother Bob Dressel, and girlfriend Donna Nice.