THE family of a man who has died after being hit by a car say they have a "million unanswered questions" and have praised emergency services and bystanders who helped him.

Michael Smith, 64, died on Friday evening after he was hit by a car in the A284 Lyminster Road, Wick, near Littlehampton, near the Six Bells pub.

Sussex Police has referred the case to the police watchdog because it received a call about Mr Smith stumbling into a fence near where he was hit about an hour and a half earlier.

But officers did not attend as they were dealing with incidents elsewhere, with a Sussex Police spokesman saying: "With units heavily committed elsewhere at around the same time it was graded for a prompt rather than emergency response."

Mr Smith was seriously injured in the collision at about 7.15pm and died before reaching hospital.

A Kia Picanto being driven south by a 75-year-old man from Littlehampton stopped at the scene. Yesterday Mr Smith's children Jamie, Jason, and Nat issued a statement on behalf of the family.

They said: "Regrettably at this awful time we are being forced to issue this statement due to the incorrect reports, rumours and Chinese whispers regarding the sad death of our Dad Michael 'Maggot' Smith.

"We and the police still have a million unanswered questions of this tragic accident that can only be resolved on completion of the investigations by the scientific forensic team and pathologists, so we ask that people stop surmising their own stories.

"Our family are not the only ones affected and we would like to send our thanks and love to the police, air ambulance, paramedics and bystanders who will also be traumatised by this incident.

"As a family we have nothing but praise for all involved and trust that everything that could have been done, was."

The road was closed from the Crossbush roundabout to the Wick roundabout for several hours.

A police spokesman said: “Sadly officers were unable to reach the scene before the collision occurred.

“As a result of this the incident is being referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission for its assessment.”

Anyone who saw what happened or who may have other information is asked to email collision.appeal@sussex.pnn.police.uk or phone 101, quoting Operation Greenleaf.