Man Faces Six Counts of Causing Death by Dangerous Driving in Fatal Crash

Christopher Cockell, 50, has appeared in court charged with six counts of causing death by dangerous driving following a collision that resulted in the deaths of six people. The incident occurred on July 21, 2024, on the A61 between Barnsley and Wakefield.

Among the deceased were Shannen Morgan and Shane Roller, who were in a Ford Focus with their daughters, Rubie, nine, and Lillie, four. The family's vehicle collided head-on with a BMW S100 XR motorcycle. Also killed in the crash were the motorcycle riders, husband and wife Christopher Barton, 56, and Janine Barton, 48. A third daughter of Morgan and Roller, who was not in the vehicle, was left orphaned by the incident.

Cockell appeared at Leeds Magistrates’ Court and confirmed his name, address, and date of birth. No details regarding his alleged role in the crash were provided during the brief hearing. District Judge David Kitson stated that the charges were serious enough to be handled by a Crown Court judge. Cockell was granted bail and is scheduled to appear next at Leeds Crown Court on December 1.

Family members of the victims were present in court for the hearing. An inquest opening had previously heard that the collision happened around 3:50 p.m. The Ford Focus driven by Mr. Roller reportedly burst into flames following the impact.

West Yorkshire Police described the event as an "absolutely tragic incident" and appealed for witnesses, particularly those with dashcam footage, to come forward. An aerial photograph of the crash site shows the mangled wreckage of the Ford Focus on a grass verge, with debris from the motorcycle scattered on the road.

A GoFundMe page established to support the surviving daughter, then 11, raised over £400,000 for her education, emotional support, and future care. Teachers from Athersley North Primary School, where Rubie and Lillie were students, remembered the girls as a "delight to teach" and "a credit to their parents."