A man has appeared in court accused of causing the deaths of six people by dangerous driving - including a couple and two of their children.
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man → appear → children
Shannen Morgan and Shane Roller died alongside two of their daughters - Rubie, nine, and Lillie, four - when the family's car collided with a motorbike on the A61 between Barnsley and Wakefield on July 21, 2024.
A third daughter who was not in the vehicle was left orphaned by the crash.
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who → die → crash
Husband and wife Christopher Barton, 56, and Janine Barton, 48, from Barnsley, who were both on the motorcycle, also died.
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who → die → motorcycle
Christopher Cockell, 50, appeared at Leeds Magistrates’ Court this afternoon charged with six counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
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Cockell → appear → driving
At a two-minute hearing, no details were provided about his alleged role in the crash.
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details → provide → crash
Entering the dock wearing a face mask and a woolly hat, Cockell spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth.
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Cockell → enter → birth
District Judge David Kitson told him that the charges he faces are so serious they can only be dealt with by a Crown Court judge.
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they → tell → judge
Cockell was granted bail to next appear at Leeds Crown Court on December 1.
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Cockell → grant → December
Family members of those killed were in attendance at court during the brief hearing.
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members → kill → hearing
An inquest opening previously heard that the silver Ford Focus being driven by Mr Roller, 33, collided head-on with the BMW S100 XR motorcycle being driven by Mr Barton, 56, at around 3.50pm.
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Focus → hear → 3.50pm
Shane Roller, his partner Shannen Morgan, and their children Lillie and Rubie died when their Ford Focus crashed into a motorbike
A GoFundMe page was set up to pay for their surviving daughter's education, emotional support and future care
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page → die → education
They are pictured with their surviving sister
Husband and wife Christopher and Janine Barton, who were riding a motorcycle, were also killed in the crash
Mr Roller's brother, Callum, wrote on social media at the time to say he was 'lost for words' following the harrowing incident.
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he → picture → incident
I'm gonna miss all of you!
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I → go → you
It's absolutely broken my heart and it's absolutely broken both sides of the family
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it → break → family
!' he wrote.
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he → write → ?
Teachers of Athersley North Primary School, which Rubie and Lillie had attended, said the girls had been 'a delight to teach'.
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girls → attend → which
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.'
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who → say → parents
Footage of the aftermath of the crash showed a burnt-out car and a large police presence on the A61 between Wakefield and Barnsley.
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Footage → show → Wakefield
West Yorkshire Police described the collision as an 'absolutely tragic incident' and called for witnesses to come forward with dashcam footage.
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witnesses → describe → footage
The surviving daughter has been described as 'bright and resilient', with an 'infectious smile and a kind heart'.
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daughter → survive → smile
The fundraising page said she enjoys playing football and playing outdoors, and is also a 'huge Taylor Swift fan'.
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she → say → football
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
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Pictures → take → road
Yorkshire Police described the collision as an 'absolutely tragic incident'
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Police → describe → incident
It is understood the family's Ford Focus burst into flames after colliding with the motorbike.
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Focus → understand → motorbike
Images show the blackened and mangled wreckage of the vehicle in a grass verge.
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Images → show → verge
Debris, believed to be from the motorbike, could be seen strewn in the middle of the road.
uncertain
Debris → believe → road
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.
'
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which → say → lives
Our thoughts go out to the families of those who have died who we are working with to provide support at this time.'
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we → go → time
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