THE stepfather of a young basketball player killed in a car crash five months ago has died after being hit by a train in Trowbridge.

Geoffrey Crucefix, 61, of Ramsbury Walk, Trowbridge, was devastated by the death of 23-year-old Matthew Bromley, who died after his car was in collision with a lorry near Chilcompton, Somerset, in May.

This week neighbours have spoken of their shock and confusion over the events leading up to the death of the former Avon Rubber worker and church caretaker.

Police believe Mr Crucefix was at the wheel of his silver Proton just after 9pm last Thursday when it was involved in a crash with a Vauxhall Astra in Dursley Road, Trowbridge. A police spokesman said a woman in the other car tried to snatch the car keys because she thought the man at the wheel was drink-driving, and she was bitten on the hand.

The man drove off and police traced the car to Mr Crucefix's home, but he was not in when they called to investigate.

Friend Heather Campbell, who lived opposite Mr Crucefix, said: "What we are hearing is just completely out of character. He was the last person who would do something like that."

Mrs Campbell and her husband, Mike, had known Mr Crucefix since he moved to Ramsbury Walk about three years ago and the three had become friends.

After the police spoke to them on Thursday they set out to look for Mr Crucefix and spent over an hour combing the streets before police arrived to break the news they had found a body.

Police were called to the railway line at Drynham Lane, close to the White Horse Business Park, at about 10pm, after a man later identified as Mr Crucefix was hit by a passenger train travelling between Bristol and Weymouth. An inquest was due to be opened in Salisbury yesterday.

Mr Campbell said: "It is a real struggle to understand. He was not the person we are hearing about from that night. It is like talking about two different people."

Mr Crucefix, who had been married and had several children and stepchildren, including Matthew Bromley, was well regarded among his neighbours and was a member of the local Neighbourhood Watch.

He was a keen churchgoer and had helped with caretaking at the United Church in Trowbridge since retiring from Avon Rubber in Melksham last year, after over 30 years service.