Police watchdog to investigate as pensioner's body is found 12 hours after Brampton-en-le-Morthen collision

SOUTH Yorkshire Police has referred itself to the police watchdog after a pensioner's body was found at the roadside 12 hours after a collision in which he is thought to have died.

Officers were called to a collision on Long Road, Brampton-en-le-Morthen, at 8.30pm on Tuesday and searched the scene, a spokeswoman said.

A black Citroen Picasso, the only vehicle involved in the collision, was later recovered.

Police then returned at 8.30am yesterday after receiving a call from the ambulance service about the body of a man being discovered on Long Road, close to the scene of the collision, added the spokeswoman.

The man (74) was pronounced dead at the scene.

The spokeswoman said South Yorkshire Police had made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office of Police Conduct because it had attended the road traffic collision prior to the body being found.

Officers are appealing for anyone who was driving through Long Road on Tuesday and saw people on the road, who witnessed the collision or saw any vehicles on the road prior to it. They would also like to hear from anyone who holds dashcam footage.