Man charged with causing death by dangerous driving over crash that killed 6

ByVictoria Scheer and Flora Grafton

Yorkshire

A man has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving over a crash that killed six people, including two children.

Shannen Morgan and Shane Roller died along with two of their daughters, nine-year-old Rubie, and Lillie, four, when the family's car collided with a motorbike on the A61 between Barnsley and Wakefield on 21 July 2024.

Husband and wife Christopher and Janine Barton, from Barnsley, who were both travelling on the motorcycle, also died in the crash.

Christopher Cockell, 50, is due to appear at Leeds Magistrates' Court in October charged with six counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

An inquest previously heard that the silver Ford Focus being driven by Mr Roller, 33, collided head on with the BMW motorcycle being driven by Mr Barton, 56, at about 15:50 BST between Staincross and Newmillerdam.

Wakefield Coroner's Court heard the collision happened as the motorcycle was overtaking another vehicle on the single-carriageway road, which had a 50mph (80 km/h) speed limit.

Coroner's support officer Phil Marr told the hearing: "As a result of a head-on impact, the car was spun to the side of the road, where it caught fire.

"It was not possible to release any of the occupants and all four were pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene."

Marr said a pathologist concluded Mr Barton's provisional cause of death was due to head and chest injuries.

He said Mrs Barton was "thrown onto the adjacent golf course" in the collision, with her death due to chest injuries.

Ms Morgan and van driver Mr Roller, who lived in Athersley, Barnsley, had another daughter, aged 11, who was not with them at the time of the crash.

An online fundraising page, set up by a family friend in the wake of the tragedy, raised more than £400,000 for her.

In a social media post at the time, Mr Roller's father, Graham, paid tribute to the couple, who he described as an "amazing" mum and dad.

"Shane wasn't just a son but an amazing father and he had a heart of gold," he wrote.

"Shannen, our daughter-in-law, was funny and was also an amazing mum and they thought the world of their little family."

Co-head teachers of Athersley North Primary School, which Rubie and Lillie had attended, said the girls had been "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."

Mr and Mrs Barton, 48, who had lived in Barnsley, had recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.

In a tribute issued via West Yorkshire Police in 2024, their son described his parents as "a loving, caring mum and dad who always put me before everything else".

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said Cockell had been summoned following an investigation by the force's Major Collision Enquiry Team and would appear before magistrates on 28 October.

Cockell, of Gresford Close, Woolley Grange, had already been facing a charge of failing to stop at the scene of a collision.