Man appears in court over Yorkshire village crash which killed six people
A man has appeared in court charged with causing the deaths of six people, including two young sisters, in a crash more than two years ago.
Four members of the same family, including two children, and a married couple on a motorcycle were killed in the crash on the A61, near the village of Mapplewell, Barnsley, in July 2024.
Shane Roller, 33, his partner Shannen Morgan, 30, and their daughters, Rubie and Lillie Morgan-Roller, aged nine and four, died when their Ford Focus car was in collision with the motorbike.
Mr Roller and Ms Morgan had a third daughter who was not in the car.
The married couple on the BMW S100 XR motorbike – Christopher Barton, 56, and Janine Barton, 48 – also died in the crash.
On Wednesday, Christopher Cockell appeared at Leeds Magistrates Court charged with six counts of dangerous driving and one count of failing to stop after a road accident.
The 50-year-old, of Gresford Close, Woolley Grange, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address during the brief hearing.
Cockell, who arrived at court wearing a face mask, was not asked to enter pleas to the charges and was given unconditional bail before his next hearing at Leeds Crown Court on December 1.
The court heard that the offence of causing death by dangerous driving could only be dealt with at a crown court.
West Yorkshire Police said in September this year that Cockell had been charged with causing the six deaths.