A man has been charged in connection with a devastating road crash that claimed the lives of six people, including a couple and two of their children.
Christopher Cockell, 50, is scheduled to appear before Leeds Magistrates’ Court on October 28, facing six charges of causing death by dangerous driving.
Shannen Morgan and Shane Roller were killed with their daughters Rubie, nine, and Lillie, four, when the family’s Ford Focus collided with a motorcycle on the A61 on July 21, 2024.
The motorcycle riders, Christopher and Janine Barton, from Barnsley, also died in the crash.
An inquest was told that Mr Roller’s silver Ford Focus collided head-on with the BMW motorbike ridden by Mr Barton at approximately 3.50pm. The crash happened on the A61 between Staincross and Newmillerdam.
Following the tragedy, Shane’s brother Callum said on social media that he was struggling to find words to describe the loss.
“I’m absolutely heartbroken. I’m gonna miss all of you! It’s absolutely broken my heart and it’s absolutely broken both sides of the family!” he wrote.
“You all had a heart of gold and gonna miss you all like crazy! My heart goes out to Shannen’s side of the family and mine! We are all in absolute shock!”
A GoFundMe campaign launched after the collision raised more than £400,000 to support the couple’s surviving 11-year-old daughter, including help with her education, emotional wellbeing and long-term care.
Shane Roller, his partner Shannen Morgan and their daughters Lillie and Rubie died after their Ford Focus collided with a motorcycle
A GoFundMe campaign was launched to support the surviving daughter with education, emotional support and future care
Lillie and Rubie were among those killed in the crash. They are pictured with their surviving sister
Staff at Athersley North Primary School, where Rubie and Lillie were pupils, remembered the sisters as “a delight to teach”.
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In a statement, teachers Clare Storr and Kirsty Wordsworth said: “The girls were a credit to their parents, who were always incredibly supportive and who will also be greatly missed.”
Images from the aftermath showed the charred remains of a car, wreckage scattered across a grass verge and a major police response on the A61 between Wakefield and Barnsley.
West Yorkshire Police described the fatal collision as an “absolutely tragic incident” and appealed to anyone with information or dashcam footage to contact investigators.
The family’s surviving daughter has been described as “bright and resilient”, known for her “infectious smile and a kind heart”.
According to the fundraising appeal, she enjoys football and spending time outdoors, and is also a “huge Taylor Swift fan”.
The Ford Focus is believed to have caught fire after the collision. Photographs showed the vehicle’s blackened, twisted remains lying on the grass beside the road.
Fragments thought to have come from the motorcycle were also visible across the centre of the carriageway.
An aerial photo taken of the crash site on the A61 between Wakefield and Barnsley in 2024
Pictures from the aftermath of the crash showed a burnt-out car by the side of the road
West Yorkshire Police described the collision as an ‘absolutely tragic incident’
Superintendent Alan Travis of Wakefield District Police said at the time: ‘This is an absolutely tragic incident which has resulted in the loss of six lives.
‘Our thoughts go out to the families of those who have died who we are working with to provide support at this time.’