Man arrested after girl, 11, loses her entire family in one day
Little Poppie’s entire family was killed in a mass tragedy on Sunday. The reason she is alive is because of a simple decision.
A British man has been arrested over the horror crash that left an 11-year-old girl orphaned –leaving her with “an uncertain future”.
Shannen Morgan, Shane Roller, and sisters Rubie, 9, and Lillie, 4, were killed after a motorbike collided with their Ford Focus as the family travelled home following a walk on Sunday.
Poppie escaped the tragedy because she had chosen not to join her family for the day out, instead going to a friend’s house for dinner, but she now faces a life without any next-of-kin.
Christopher Barton, 56, and his wife Janine, 48, who were on the motorbike were also both killed.
Police have now confirmed a man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, The Sun reports.
News of the tragedy made global headlines after a GoFundMe for Poppie, from the UK town of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, detailing her plight was launched.
It has currently since raised almost £380,000 (about $745,000 Australian dollars) since the tragedy occurred on Sunday.
Its organiser, family friend Paul Hepple, was looking after Poppie at the time and has described her as a “bright and resilient young girl” who has turned to Taylor Swift’s music to find comfort after she “lost her whole world in an instant”.
“Despite her unimaginable loss, she shows incredible strength every day,” he wrote on the fundraiser.
“Poppie now faces an uncertain future. With her immediate family gone, she needs support to ensure she has a stable, loving environment where she can heal and grow.”
The horror unfolded on Sunday afternoon as the family were travelling in their car via a major trunk road in northern England.
Shocking pictures taken after the horror smash show the burnt out wreckage of the family’s car.
Shannen, 30, Shane, 33, and their daughters Rubie and Lillie were all declared dead at the scene.
Mr Hepple said everyone was just tucking into a roast dinner when the phone rang with the devastating news.
“Her mum actually contacted us and asked if we could watch [the girl] because she didn’t want to go on the walk that they went on,” he told Mail Online.
“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 [the girl’s] aunty was with us and obviously, [she] was as well.
“And then she got a phone call and she ended up leaving really quickly to go and see what happened.”
Christopher and Janine’s son Lewis, 21, was on holiday in Thailand when he heard about his parents death and is believed to have flown home immediately, Mail Online reports.
He has also been left orphaned, the publication added.
In a tribute released through West Yorkshire Police, the couple 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, adding Christopher and Janine were just 20 minutes from home when the collision occurred.
They had spent a day out at the seaside in Scarborough.
Shannen and Shane’s devastated friends and family have been paying tribute to the family on social media, vowing to look after Poppie.
Shane’s brother Callum said he was “lost for words”, adding: “I’m absolutely heartbroken. I’m gonna miss all of you! You all had a heart of gold. My heart is ripped into a million pieces!”
Shannen’s friend Chelsea Element wrote: “You are and always will be one of my closest friends.
“There are no words to describe the utter loss this has created for family/friends and the community around us.
“I hope you’re at peace Shannen Morgan and Shane Roller, with your beautiful girls.
“Everyone will always look after [the eldest girl], she will never want for anything she has the love of everyone.”
Her cousin Beth Brittain said: “My heart just hurts my brain won’t accept what’s happened.
“Shannen you were always my extra sister not just my cousin, we grew together. I just can’t speak. No words. Sleep tight my little Roller family your memory will live on for eternity.”
While another added: “My heart is absolutely shattered, I’m lost, I’m numb. It just doesn’t seem real that all four off you are gone.”
Superintendent Alan Travis of Wakefield District Police said: “This is an absolutely tragic incident which has resulted in the loss of six lives.
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“Our thoughts go out to the families of those who have died who we are working with to provide support at this time.”
Police are urging “anyone who has dashcam, doorbell or CCTV footage of this car” to contact them and assist their investigation.
They also issued a public plea for anyone who saw a grey coloured Porsche 911 at the time of the crash to come forward.
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