Crash that killed six happened after head-on collision with motorbike

A crash that left six people dead and an orphaned girl unfolded after an overtaking motorbike collided “head-on” with a car, an inquest heard.

Shane Roller, 33, Shannen Morgan, 30, and their daughters Rubie Morgan-Roller, nine, and Lillie Morgan-Roller, four, were killed in the crash on the A61 near Wakefield on July 21.

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

A short hearing at Wakefield Coroner’s Court on Wednesday heard that Mr Roller was behind the wheel of the silver Ford Focus when it hit the BMW motorbike being ridden by Mr Barton “head on”.

The crash took place as the motorbike was overtaking another vehicle on the single-carriageway road, which has a 50mph speed limit, the inquest heard.

West Yorkshire Police arrested the driver of another car on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving days after the collision. He remained on bail, the force said.

A pathologist’s report found that Mr Roller’s cause of death “clearly involved a head injury”.

The three other occupants in the car died from injuries “consistent with smoke and fire gas inhalation,” provisional reports said.

The couple had another daughter, 11, who was not with them at the time of the collision.

Mr Barton, 56, “suffered injuries which disrupted his body,” Mr Marr said. His wife, 48, was riding as a pillion passenger behind her husband when she was “thrown on to the adjacent golf course” after the crash, the inquest heard.

Kevin McLoughlin, senior coroner for West Yorkshire, said it “may be some time” before final post-mortem results would be available, the BBC reported.

Paying tribute to the emergency services, he said: “The scene that they encountered that Sunday afternoon was immensely distressing.

“It would be tested for the most experienced paramedics, police officers and fire service personnel to deal with.

“I would wish to acknowledge at this early stage the valuable and professional work that was carried out.

“We are very fortunate indeed to have people of such caliber to call upon in this region. I express my gratitude.”

A fundraiser set up in the aftermath of the crash by a friend of the Roller family has raised more than £400,000.