A suspect who died during a police pursuit in Shandong Province had the cause of his death officially explained as an accident where he was "killed in a collision with a tree." His family believe that he was killed in a collision with the police car chasing him, the Hunan Daily website has reported.

The man, identified by his surname Chang, was killed in the chase in Dongchangfu District of Liaocheng City, Shandong Province, earlier this month.

Police said that Chang had been suspected of stealing the motorcycle he was riding and was attempting to escape from the police, who gave chase, the website report said.

However, Chang's family asked the police why there was a crashed patrol car at the scene as well as an uprooted tree. No skid marks were discovered on the highway and the patrol car was found in a field nearly 30 meters away.

Chang's family claim a witness told them that the police car initially collided with the motorcycle, killing Chang, and then hit the tree.

Chang's wife and three children went to the district public security department overseeing the town police and were locked in an °?interrogation room for about seven hours.

A senior officer with the district police told the website that Shandong's provincial public security department would carry out an investigation shortly.

"A hearing will be held soon to further explain the circumstances of the incident, after a full investigation," said an officer, surnamed Guo, of the district police department.

Guo said Chang was wanted by police in Hebei Province.