A motorcyclist and pillion passenger who were among six people killed in a fireball crash have been named and pictured for the first time.
Husband and wife Christopher Barton, 56, and Janine Barton, 48, died in a collision on the A61 between Wakefield and Barnsley on Sunday.
The crash also took the lives of a young family including two parents and two little girls, leaving a third daughter orphaned.
In a tribute released through West Yorkshire Police, Mr and Mrs Barton were described by their son as ‘a loving, caring mum and dad who always put me before everything else’.
The couple had recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary, police said.
Shane Roller, 33, his partner Shannen Morgan, 30, and their daughters Rubie and Lillie Morgan-Roller, nine and four, were also killed in the crash between their Ford Focus and Mr and Mrs Barton’s motorbike.
The motorbike was allegedly driving on the wrong side of the road before the fatal collision at around 3.54pm.
Christopher Barton, 56, and Janine Barton, 48, (pictured together) died in a collision on the A61 between Wakefield and Barnsley on Sunday
Shane Roller, his partner Shannen Morgan, and their children Lillie and Rubie also died when their Ford Focus crashed into Mr and Mrs Barton’s motorbike. Their third daughter, whose face is obscured, has been orphaned
Pictures from the aftermath of the crash showed a burnt car by the side of the road
Mr and Mrs Barton had recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary, police said
Mr and Mrs Barton were described by their son as ‘a loving, caring mum and dad who always put me before everything else’
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 how Poppie is now set to move in with her auntie, who has been described as an ‘amazing, loving, and capable guardian’.
The child’s new living situation was shared by Paul Hepple, 37, who Poppie has been staying with 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 getting a phone call from her mother saying she did not want to join them on a walk.
The father-of-four explained they were settling down for a Sunday dinner when they got an emergency phone call.
The Morgan-Roller family died after the couple’s motorbike collided with their car on the A61 on Sunday
Lillie (right) and her big sister Rubie (left), who both died in the tragic crash
Shane Roller and his partner Shannen Morgan had been driving back with two of their three daughters after going on a Sunday walk
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 £31,000 to support 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.’
