Crime21 September, 20262 min read
Christopher Cockell Charged With Causing Deaths Of Six In A61 Crash Near Wakefield
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Christopher Cockell charged with six counts of causing death by dangerous driving in A61 crash. The crash on the A61 near Barnsley and Wakefield killed six people, including two children.
- He will appear at Leeds Magistrates' Court on 28 October 2026.
- Victims included Shannen Morgan, Shane Roller, and their daughters Rubie, 9, and Lillie, 4.
7 outlets told this the same way.
Six deaths, dangerous driving charge
Christopher Cockell, 50, has been charged with six counts of causing death by dangerous driving over a crash on the A61 between Barnsley and Wakefield on 21 July 2024. West Yorkshire Police said Cockell, of Gresford Close, Woolley Grange, was summoned following an investigation by the Major Collision Enquiry Team (MCET) into the collision that took place on Barnsley Road, in Wakefield district, between Staincross and Newmillerdam.
“Christopher Cockell, aged 50, of Gresford Close, Woolley Grange, is accused of six counts of causing death by dangerous driving.”
The collision killed Shane Roller, 33, and Shannen Morgan, 30, along with their daughters Rubie Morgan-Roller, aged nine, and Lillie Morgan-Roller, aged four, when their Ford Focus collided head on with the BMW motorcycle being driven by Christopher Barton, 56, and ridden by Janine Barton, 48. Wakefield Coroner's Court heard the collision happened as the motorcycle was overtaking another vehicle on the single-carriageway road with a 50mph (80 km/h) speed limit, and coroner's support officer Phil Marr said, "It was not possible to release any of the occupants and all four were pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene."
Court date and earlier inquest
Christopher Cockell is due to appear at Leeds Magistrates' Court on 28 October after the charge was brought in connection with the 21 July 2024 collision. 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, an inquest previously heard.
Phil Marr told the hearing that, "As a result of a head-on impact, the car was spun to the side of the road, where it caught fire," and he said a pathologist concluded Mr Barton's provisional cause of death was due to head and chest injuries. Mrs Barton was "thrown onto the adjacent golf course" in the collision, with her death due to chest injuries, and Ms Morgan and van driver Mr Roller had another daughter, aged 11, who was not with them at the time of the crash.
Investigation, charges, and impact
The collision resulted in the deaths of Shane Roller, Shannen Morgan, Rubie Morgan-Roller, Lillie Morgan-Roller, Christopher Barton, and Janine Barton, and it said Cockell was accused of six counts of causing death by dangerous driving. The collision happened on the A61 between Barnsley and Wakefield and the silver Ford Focus being driven by Mr Roller, 33, collided head on with the BMW motorcycle being driven by Mr Barton, 56.
The BBC reported that an online fundraising page set up by a family friend raised more than £400,000 for the daughter who was not with them at the time, and it said Mr Roller's father, Graham, paid tribute in a social media post describing Shane as "an amazing" father and Shannen as "an amazing mum". The BBC also said a spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police stated Cockell had been summoned following an investigation by the force's Major Collision Enquiry Team and would appear before magistrates on 28 October, and it added that Cockell had already been facing a charge of failing to stop at the scene of a collision.