A tragic accident has left an 11-year-old girl without her parents and two younger sisters, shaking an entire community. Shannen Morgan, Shane Roller, and their two youngest daughters, Lillie and Rubie, tragically died in a horrific crash between Wakefield and Barnsley. The family’s Ford Focus collided with a motorcycle just before 4 p.m., killing six people, including two additional victims involved in the crash.
The couple’s 11-year-old daughter, now the sole survivor of her immediate family, faces unimaginable grief. She has lost both her parents and her sisters in a single devastating moment. A fundraiser has been launched to support the young girl during this difficult time, and the organizer described her as showing “remarkable strength” in the face of this overwhelming loss. “She lost her whole world in an instant,” said the person behind the campaign. “Every day, despite all that she’s lost, she displays an incredible resilience that is beyond words.”
The crash occurred on a Sunday afternoon, on the A61 near Wakefield, leaving behind a scene of devastation. Photographs captured in the immediate aftermath of the collision show the charred wreckage of the family’s vehicle, a heart-wrenching reminder of the tragic event. Authorities confirmed that Shannen, Shane, Rubie, and Lillie were pronounced dead at the scene, along with the motorcyclist and a female passenger.
The loss has sent shockwaves through the community, as friends, relatives, and neighbors mourn the sudden passing of such a close-knit family. Loved ones have vowed to provide care and support for the couple’s eldest daughter, ensuring that she will be surrounded by love and care during this unimaginably difficult time.
Calum, Shane’s brother, expressed his sorrow, saying he was “lost for words” and “absolutely heartbroken” over the loss. “I’ll miss all of you! You all had such kind hearts,” he shared, adding, “My heart is shattered into a million pieces.” The grief is echoed by others close to the family, with Shannen’s friend, Chelsea Element, writing, “You are and always will be one of my best friends. There are no words to describe the pain our family, friends, and the community are feeling right now.”
Chelsea also expressed her hope that Shannen and Shane are now at peace with their daughters, Lillie and Rubie, by their side. She emphasized that the eldest daughter will never be alone, as the community has rallied around her to provide the love and support she will need in the days ahead. “Everyone will always look after her. She will never want for anything because she has the love of everyone,” she wrote.
Beth Brittain, Shannen’s cousin, struggled to come to terms with the tragedy, sharing, “My brain just can’t accept what’s happened; my heart is broken.” She continued, “Shannen, you were more than a cousin—you were like another sister to me. We grew up together, and now, I’m just at a loss for words. Sleep tight, my dear Roller family, you will always be in my heart.”
The overwhelming grief has resonated with countless others who knew the family. One friend expressed how numb and broken they felt in the wake of the loss, saying, “It’s hard to believe that all four of you are gone.”
Local officials have also expressed their sorrow over the tragic event. Barnsley North MP and security minister Dan Jarvis offered his condolences, calling the news “devastating.” In a message posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), Jarvis said, “I am deeply sorry for the loss of these loved ones. My thoughts are with their families and friends.”
Superintendent Alan Travis of the Wakefield District Police echoed these sentiments, stating, “This is an absolutely tragic event that has claimed the lives of six people. Our thoughts are with the families of those who have died, and we are working with them to provide support during this incredibly difficult time.”
