Greek officials expressed deep sorrow for the sudden death of Greek acclaimed film director Theodoros Angelopoulos in an Athens hospital on early Wednesday after a road accident.

The 76-year-old director, who had won awards in Cannes and Berlin for his work spanning over four decades, was hit by a police officer riding a motorcycle at a Piraeus port suburb in late Tuesday.

The accident occured as he was shooting his latest film "The Other Sea" about the economic crisis that has hit Greece hard. He passed away from internal bleeding and multiple head injuries within hours.

Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos expressed his condolences over the loss of an artist with an innovative glance who opened new horizons and became a leading figure in global cinema.

"In his movies, he depicted the drama of post-civil war in Greece and contributed to the deepest understanding of contemporary history. Our country is in a terrible moment, as it loses a great creator. His work that he leaves as consignment will always be a precious chapter in our cultural history," he said.

Culture Minister Pavlos Geroulanos praised Angelopoulos' contribution to the Seventh Art, saying that he may not have had the chance to complete his latest film, but he did took us on more journeys than any other Greek filmmaker with his work.

"We all owe him a resounding 'thank you.' In his case, the word 'irreplaceable' truly applies," Geroulanos added.

Similar statements for one of "the most important ambassadors of Greece," and "a pioneer of quality cinema," were made by the leaders of the three parties supporting Papademos' interim government, and all parties represented in parliament.

Greek artists and ordinary people in the streets of Athens bid farewell to "a great Greek" and "a poet of cinema who gave us dignity and vision."