A 50-year-old man has been charged in connection with a road crash that claimed the lives of six people, including a couple and two of their children.
Christopher Cockell is due to appear before Leeds Magistrates’ Court on October 28, where he will face six charges of causing death by dangerous driving.
Shannen Morgan and Shane Roller died with their daughters Rubie, nine, and Lillie, four, when the family’s car collided with a motorcycle on the A61 on July 21, 2024.
The motorcyclists, Christopher and Janine Barton, from Barnsley, also lost their lives in the collision.
An inquest heard that Mr Roller’s silver Ford Focus was involved in a head-on crash with a BMW motorcycle ridden by Mr Barton at approximately 3.50pm. The collision occurred on the road between Staincross and Newmillerdam.
In the aftermath, Shane’s brother Callum said on social media that he was “lost for words” after the devastating crash.
“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 to support the couple’s surviving daughter, who was 11 at the time, raised more than £400,000. The money was intended to help with her education, emotional wellbeing and future 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 died in the crash and 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”.
In a statement, 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 scene showed a burned-out car and a substantial police presence along the A61 between Wakefield and Barnsley.
West Yorkshire Police called the collision “an absolutely tragic incident” and appealed to anyone with information, including dashcam footage, to contact officers.
The family’s surviving daughter has been described as “bright and resilient”, with an “infectious smile and a kind heart”.
According to the fundraising page, she enjoys football and spending time outdoors, and is also a “huge Taylor Swift fan”.
The Ford Focus is understood to have caught fire after striking the motorcycle. Photographs from the scene showed the vehicle’s blackened, twisted remains on a grass verge.
Wreckage believed to have come from the motorcycle was scattered across the centre of the road.
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.’
