ST ANN, Jamaica — One of two people rushed to hospital following a two-vehicle crash along the Ocho Rios Bypass in St Ann on Sunday afternoon has died.

He has been identified as 35-year-old businessman Michael Sterling of Middle Street, Exchange in the parish.

The police have reported that around 2:00 pm, the vehicle in which Sterling was travelling collided head on into a BMW motorcar headed in the opposite direction. It is alleged that the BMW was overtaking a line of traffic when it crashed into the vehicle which Sterling was driving.

READ: Two people taken to hospital after Ocho Rios crash

The occupants of both vehicles were taken to hospital where Sterling was pronounced dead.

One of his former classmates, Sandrene Jackson, said she had been praying that he would have survived the crash.

“Up to now mi can’t believe. A long time me know him enuh, we a come from prep school and him always a give joke and make people laugh and dem suppen deh. Mi just feel hurt right now me nah lie”, she told OBSERVER ONLINE.

She said she had always admired his work ethic.

“When you talk ’bout ambitious, hardworking a him that. Is a youth wah always a try fi make himself better, him did have wah restaurant and more while a him a deliver him food dem same way. If you knew him you know say dem man always want something out of life. It just sad star, can only pray for his family right now,” she added.

One of his former customers, Jodi-kaye Barrett, said Sterling frequently delivered meals to her workplace.

“A regular mi deh work and mi see him come deliver food; cool guy, nuh look like him give any trouble. When someone showed me the picture saying that he passed I had to ask them if they were sure, because… I know him, it’s really sad,” she said.

Sterling’s death adds to the 43 fatalities from 33 crashes as at December 16, as reported by the Road Safety Unit.