A man was arrested today on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after a fireball crash which killed six people, including four members of the same family.
Shane Roller, 33, his partner Shannen Morgan, 30, and two of their daughters, Rubie and Lillie Morgan-Roller, aged nine and four, were killed when their Ford Focus collided with a motorbike.
Their surviving daughter Poppie, 11, was staying with a friend as her whole family perished in the tragedy.
Christopher Barton, 56, and wife Janine, 48, were yesterday named as the motorcycle rider and pillion passenger killed on the A61 near Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
West Yorkshire Police said a man was arrested this morning and appealed to anyone who had seen a grey coloured Porsche 911 in the area to come forward. The suspect was today being questioned by detectives in custody.
Detective Sergeant Steven Suggitt said: ‘I would like to appeal for anyone who may have seen this grey Porsche 911 being driven on the roads around the south of Wakefield or north of Barnsley to please contact us.
‘I would also urge anyone who has dashcam, doorbell or CCTV footage of this car, that may assist our investigation, to please contact us.’
The crash happened on the A61 between Wakefield and Barnsley shortly before 4pm on Sunday. All six victims died at the scene with the Ford Focus said to have exploded after leaving the road.
Shannen Morgan and Shane Roller’s daughter Poppie, 11, was not in the car after she decided not to join her family for a day out.
Christopher and Janine Barton’s 21-year-old son, Lewis, has also been left orphaned by the crash, and yesterday described his parents as ‘a loving, caring mum and dad who always put me before everything else’.
The couple had recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and were just 20 minutes from home after they had spent a day out at the seaside in Scarborough.
The motorbike was allegedly driving on the wrong side of the road before the fatal collision at around 3.54pm.
Lewis was believed to be on holiday in Thailand at the time of the horror crash and flew home after hearing the news.
Yesterday, neighbours from the quiet street of suburban Barnsley home to the Bartons spoke of their shock at their deaths as one wept: ‘I haven’t been able to take it in just yet. I’m just heartbroken. We all are.’
The couple’s neighbour Margaret, 87, who did not wish for her surname to be used, said they were a hard-working couple who ‘loved life’ and were ‘always laughing’.
She said: ‘I was absolutely heartbroken when I heard the news. It’s not fair. It’s the biggest tragedy I’ve ever come across.
‘I had choir practice and I knew I wouldn’t be able to get through it without breaking down as we sing sad songs.
‘What I’m so distraught over – apart from the fact that they were so young – is that Janine was always laughing. Everybody is absolutely devastated on this street.
‘They loved life, they’d worked so hard on their house and their garden and they were so young as far as I’m concerned.
‘They only finished the garden off about a fortnight ago. I think they were planning a big party to celebrate their anniversary.’
Margaret said the couple, who had lived in the street for around three years, were always friendly and their son was a ‘very, very nice young man’.
She added: ‘Christopher loved his bikes. They had been out to Scarborough on the bike on the Saturday and were coming home on the Sunday.
‘They weren’t far away from home at all, it’s heartbreaking that two youngsters like that should lose their lives in such an awful way.’
Shane Roller’s father, and grandfather to Poppie, Rubie and Lillie, yesterday posted a tribute on Facebook to his son, describing him as having a heart of gold.
Graham Roller wrote: ‘On Sunday we lost part of our family, Shane Roller, Shannen Morgan and two beautiful little granddaughters in a terrible car accident.
‘Shane wasn’t just a son but an amazing father and he had a heart of gold. Shannen our daughter in law was funny and was also an amazing mum and they thought the world of their little family.
‘They will be very much missed by everyone that knew them, but they will always be in our hearts and thoughts forever. Fly high and stay safe together
‘Love you more than words can say.’
The eldest daughter of the Morgan-Roller family, named locally as Poppie, had been playing at a friend’s house at the time of the tragedy after choosing not to go on a walk with them that afternoon.
A family friend revealed that Poppie is now set to move in with her aunt, who has been described as an ‘amazing, loving, and capable guardian’.
The child’s new living situation was shared by Paul Hepple, 37, with whom Poppie has been staying since the horror crash on Sunday.
Writing in a post on a GoFundMe page, which he set up for her, Mr Hepple also said Poppie’s remaining family would be ‘entirely responsible’ for managing its funds.
He said: ‘Since the tragic incident, Poppie has been staying with us.
‘The love and support we have received from all of you have been truly overwhelming, and we are deeply grateful.
‘Regarding the donations, I want to assure you that every penny will go directly to Poppie’s new guardian, her auntie.
‘Poppie will be staying and living with her auntie, who is an amazing, loving, and capable guardian.
‘She will be entirely responsible for managing the donations, ensuring that all funds are used for Poppie’s well-being, including her living expenses, education, and any counseling she may need.’
Mr Hepple said he agreed to look after Poppie after receiving a phone call from her mother saying she did not want to join the family on a walk.
The father-of-four explained they were settling down for a Sunday dinner when they got an emergency phone call.
Mr Hepple said: ‘Her mum actually contacted us and asked if we could watch Poppie because she didn’t want to go on the walk that they went on.
‘So we were watching Poppie as she’s best mates with our daughter. She was with our daughter having fun. And on their way home, that’s when the accident happened.
‘We were having Sunday dinner as a family, and Poppie’s auntie was with us and obviously, Poppie was as well. And then she got a phone call and she ended up leaving really quickly to go and see what happened.’
The software developer, who is a long-standing friend of Poppie’s parents, has raised more than £340,000 to put towards her education, emotional support and future care.
He said: ‘It’s awful. No one is ready for anything like this to happen. She can come any time she likes and we’ll do anything we can to help her.’
Mr Hepple described Poppie as a ‘bubbly’ girl who loved Taylor Swift and said her family was widely liked locally.
He added: ‘She’s a lovely bubbly girl and everyone loved her family. They were always chatty and turned up to parties all the time.’