Motorbike 'overtook car' before fatal A61 crash

Shane Roller and his partner Shannen Morgan were killed alongside two of their daughters, Rubie, nine, and Lillie, four

The inquests into the deaths of six people killed in a crash on the A61 between Barnsley and Wakefield have been opened.

Nine-year-old Rubie Morgan-Roller and her sister Lillie Morgan-Roller, four, died alongside their mother Shannen Morgan and father Shane Roller when the family's car collided with a motorbike.

Husband and wife Christopher and Janine Barton, who were both travelling on the motorcycle, also died in the crash on 21 July.

West Yorkshire Police said a 48-year-old man from the Wakefield area who was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving remained on bail.

A short hearing at Wakefield Coroner's Court on Wednesday heard that a silver Ford Focus being driven by Mr Roller, a 33-year-old van driver originally from Oxford, collided head on with the BMW motorcycle being driven by Mr Barton, a HGV driver, at about 15:50 BST.

Coroner's support officer Phil Marr said the collision occurred as the motorcycle was overtaking another vehicle on the single-carriageway road, which had a 50mph speed limit. Driving conditions had been fine on the day of the crash, he added.

Mr Marr told the hearing: "As a result of a head-on impact, the car was spun to the side of the road, where it caught fire. It was not possible to release any of the occupants and all four were pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene."

Mr Roller's cause of death "clearly involved a head injury", according to a pathologist's report which also concluded further investigation was required.

The three other occupants in the car died due to injuries "consistent with smoke and fire gas inhalation", the provisional reports said.

Mrs Morgan, 30, and the couple's two daughters were all due to celebrate birthdays this month.

The family, from Athersley, Barnsley, had another daughter, aged 11, who was not with them at the time of the crash.

More than £400,000 has been raised for the surviving sister after a Gofundme appeal was set up by family friend Paul Hepple.

Christopher Barton, 56, and Janine Barton, 48, were killed in the collision on the A61

Mr Marr said Mr Barton, 56 and also from Barnsley, "suffered injuries which disrupted his body".

A pathologist concluded his provisional cause of death was due to head and chest injuries.

His wife, a 48-year-old retired financial advisor, had been riding on the motorbike as a pillion passenger behind her husband.

She was "thrown onto the adjacent golf course" following the collision, Mr Marr said.

A pathologist concluded her cause of death was due to chest injuries.

Kevin McLoughlin, senior coroner for West Yorkshire, said it "may be some time yet" before a forensic collision investigation report and final postmortem results would be available.

He indicated police may have sought an adjournment until the conclusion of their criminal investigation, before postponing the full inquests.

"At some point a decision will be made as to whether these inquests will be resumed and, if so, when," he added.

All six crash victims were pronounced death at the scene

Mr McLoughlin paid tribute to the emergency services for their response to the "tragic incident".

He said: "The scene that they encountered that Sunday afternoon was immensely distressing.

"It would be testing 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 calibre to call upon in this region. I express my gratitude."

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