Rasbert Turner, Sunday Gleaner Writer

What started as a hit-and-run traffic accident on the Old Harbour Road in St Catherine last Friday ended with two men dead.

Reports from the police are that about 7:20 p.m., an unidentified man was walking along Old Harbour Road when he was hit by a motor vehicle which did not stop.

Residents came to the injured man's assistance and in the process blocked sections of the roadway.

It is further reported that 41-year-old school teacher Michael Melbourne was driving a Toyota Hiace motor vehicle when he encountered the crowd.

Melbourne reportedly started tooting his horn and attempted to go through the crowd allegedly hitting several persons in the process.

Stabbed repeatedly

He was then dragged from the vehicle and stabbed repeatedly by residents.

The injured persons were taken to hospital by residents, where Melbourne and the unidentified man were pronounced dead.

As the news of Melbourne's death spread, colleagues expressed shock and sadness.

"It is a sad thing. It was recently he told me that he wanted to go back to St Thomas and be close to his relatives," said George Moodie, a fellow teacher.