A61 crash: Girl, 11, escaped death in crash which killed six by making a last minute request

A horror crash involving a Ford Focus and a motorcycle has changed an 11-year-old girl’s life forever.

Poppie Roller “lost her whole world in an instant” when she was told the news – her whole family had been wiped out in the smash. Shannen Morgan, 30, dad Shane Roller, 33 and her sisters Lillie, four, and Rubie, aged nine, all died at the scene on the A61 near Wakefield, West Yorkshire, on Sunday afternoon. The family had been out for a Sunday walk.

Following the tragedy, Athersley North Primary School in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, paid tribute to little Lillie and Rubie, calling the girls “delights to teach” and said they both aspired to be teachers.

Christopher and Janine Barton, who had recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary, were on the motorcycle when it crashed. They too died at the scene near Wakefield.

Poppie only escaped death after asking to stay at a pal’s house to play, it has since emerged. Now, Paul Hepple, the parent of the friend with whom Poppie played, has set up an appeal for the orphan.

Paul 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.”

As ripples of the tragedy continue to reverberate across Yorkshire and beyond, the Mirror looks back at the atrocity and where it leaves a bereft 11-year-old girl, and the grief-stricken relatives of a long-standing married couple.

Family of four wiped out

When Shannen and Shane decided to take their daughters on a wholesome Sunday walk, little did they believe it would be the last – for each of them. However, minutes after their Yorkshire stroll, the mum and dad, and innocent Lillie and Rubie, were killed.

Their Ford Focus and a motorcycle were involved in a collision on a rural part of the A61 between Wakefield, West Yorkshire and Barnsley in South Yorkshire. It is thought that the car erupted into a fireball.

Tributes have been paid to each member of the family, who lived in Barnsley. Callum Roller, Shane’s brother, said he was “lost for words” in a devastated post, adding his heart was “ripped into a million pieces”.

“Today we lost two of our nieces, my sister-in-law and my amazing brother in a car accident,” he wrote. “I’m absolutely heartbroken I’m gonna miss all of you! It’s absolutely broken my heart and it’s absolutely broke both sides of families! You all had a heart of gold and gonna miss you all like crazy! My heart goes out to Shannen’s side of family and mine! We are all in absolute shock!”

Athersley North Primary School issued a statement saying: “It is with the deepest sadness that we address the heart-breaking news about Rubie, Lillie, and their parents. So many people in our communities will feel this devastating, tragic loss.

“Rubie was a kind, happy, and caring girl with a lovely personality. She always worked really hard and was well-liked by her friends. She was a fantastic role model for her peers and aspired to be a teacher.

“Lillie was a bright, bubbly, and happy little girl who was a popular member of her class. She was creative and very determined. Just like her big sister, she too aspired to be a teacher.

“Both girls were an asset to the school and a delight to teach. They were a much-loved part of the school community, and their loss is a devastating blow to everyone who knew them.

“The girls were a credit to their parents, who were always incredibly supportive and who will also be greatly missed. Our heartfelt thoughts are with their sister and her family at this incredibly sad time.”

Twenty-five years of marriage ends in a flash

Christopher and Janine Barton were traveling on the motorbike. Their 25 years of marriage ended abruptly following the impact on the A61.

Janine, 38, and Christopher, 56, were described as “a loving, caring mum and dad” by their devastated son today. West Yorkshire Constabulary named and pictured the couple, along with the son’s poignant tribute.

The force said it was continuing to support both families in the wake of Sunday’s tragedy. A full investigation is also underway into what happened in the moments before the crash.

Poppie becomes an orphan – at 11

Poppie wasn’t with her family – because she was playing with her best friend at their home in Barnsley. She cheated death – but has now become an orphan as all of her immediate family has gone.

A fundraiser set up to support bereaved Poppie has surpassed £280,000. The GoFundMe page was created by family friend Paul Hepple in the aftermath of Sunday’s crash as a “beacon of hope” for the youngster.

Poppie was with Paul at the time as she is mates with his daughter. The father-of-four had agreed to look after Poppie after getting a phone call from her mother saying she did not want to join them on a walk on Sunday. The software developer, who is a long-standing friend of her parents, told how they were settling down to a Sunday dinner when they got an emergency phone call which turned their lives upside down.

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.” Writing on the page, Paul, 37, said Poppie was a “bubbly” girl who was a big Taylor Swift fan, with her family widely liked locally.

The figure on the platform hit £200,000 on Tuesday morning – only 24 hours after it was set up. In an update, Paul wrote: “We are absolutely blown away by the incredible generosity and kindness shown by all of you. Thanks to your overwhelming support, we have raised over £135,500 for Poppie! This outpouring of love and compassion is truly heartwarming and is making an enormous difference in her life.

“Your donations are providing Poppie with the stability, care, and resources she needs to navigate this difficult time. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank each and every one of you for your contributions, shares, and messages of support. Your collective kindness is a beacon of hope for Poppie and all of us rallying around her.

“We will continue to keep you updated on Poppie’s journey and how your generous support is helping her. Thank you for standing by her and showing that she is not alone.” You can still donate to the page on GoFundMe.”

What happens now?

West Yorkshire Police is continuing to investigate the car crash, which happened at approximately 3.45pm on Sunday. West and South Yorkshire Fire Services and Yorkshire Ambulance also attended the scene.

Police said the crash was “truly horrific” and the force is continuing to call on any witnesses or motorists with dashcam footage. Family liaison officers are supporting both families, and the force has asked that people respect their right to privacy at this difficult time.