Woman and her two children who died in A61 crash had fled Ukraine

Mother and her two children killed in horror crash with bus were Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Britain five weeks ago – leaving behind surviving daughter, 15, months after their father died in a car crash

• Three dead after Vauxhall Meriva and Toyota Aygo collide with bus on rural A61
• Crash at 2.20pm on Sunday between South Stainley and Ripley, North Yorkshire

A mother and her two children including a 15-year-old girl and boy aged six who died in a crash with double-decker bus had fled war-torn Ukraine, it emerged today.

Daria Bartienieva, 35, Anastasiia Bartienieva, 15, and Ihor Bartienieva, six, were killed when two cars collided with the bus near Ripon in North Yorkshire on Sunday.

The tragedy came seven months after the children’s father also died in a car crash in Ukraine in February – leaving a surviving daughter aged 15, now orphaned in Britain.

Donna Chilcott, whose fundraising page has amassed over £8,000 for the bereaved teenager, said the family were liked by locals in Ripon, where they sought sanctuary.

The supermarket team leader added that Anastasiia, Ms Bartienieva’s step-daughter, had only been in the UK for five weeks before she died in the collision on the A61.

The incident happened eight days after a 59-year-old motorcyclist died in a crash on the same stretch of road. That incident on August 26 saw the Suzuki Bandit rider involved in a collision with a dark Land Rover Discovery and a white Ford Transit van. 

The crash was on the A61 between South Stainley and Ripley in North Yorkshire (file image)

Ms Chilcott, 39, said: ‘It’s heartbreaking, especially for her. She lost her dad in February in Ukraine and then lost the rest of her whole family in one car crash.

‘As far as I’m aware, he also died in a car crash. She’s now being looked after by a family friend. The little boy had quite a lot of friend at the school that he went to.

‘The other girl, Anastasiia, had only been here for five weeks, in the UK, then died in a car crash. The mum was really nice from what everyone has been saying.

‘My daughter goes to school with the girl that has been left on her own. But I didn’t really know the family. I’m friends with the lady who has taken her in.’

Police said the family’s silver Vauxhall Meriva collided with a blue Toyota Aygo and a bus, which was travelling in the opposite direction to both cars, at around 2.20pm.

The driver of the bus was taken to hospital with leg injuries, while some of its passengers were also needed treatment after sustaining minor injuries.

The family were liked by locals in Ripon, North Yorkshire, where they lived (file image)

The two people who were travelling in the Toyota were not hurt in the crash, which happened on the rural road between South Stainley and Ripley.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said today: ‘We are now able to confirm the identities of the woman and two children who tragically died in a collision on the A61 near Ripon on Sunday.

‘They are Daria Bartienieva, 35, her son, Ihor Bartienieva, aged 6, and Daria’s step-daughter, Anastasiia Bartienieva aged 15.

‘All three were from Ukraine and living in Ripon, North Yorkshire, at the time of the collision. Our thoughts are with their family members in the UK and Ukraine at this time.’

Following the news of the family’s passing, scores of locals took to social media to share their shared sense of grief.

One wrote: ‘How very sad to hear such tragic news and the poor girl now without a family. Very sad and I hope she will get the support she so will desperately need at this difficult time.

North Yorkshire Police advised motorists of the A61 closure on Sunday afternoon and evening

Another said: ‘How devastating and heartbreaking for this young girl, bless her.’ A third simply said: ‘Heartbreaking. I have no words.’

A further local wrote: ‘Such a tragedy, I hope she has a lot of support and love around her. My heart breaks for her.’

After the incident, police said yesterday that the next of kin of the three victims had been receiving ‘specialist support’.

One witness, Christine Henderson, said: ‘I was about five cars behind and it looked horrific… so sad.’

Others claimed the area could be dangerous, with former local bus driver Miles Body saying: ‘It’s so sad to hear about the news of yesterday. RIP to those involved.

‘But if it’s where I think the crash happened, the council should get rid of that overtaking bit. When I was a bus driver I had a couple of near misses there.’

Local resident Katie Denton-Leach said: ‘How many people have to die on this road before they do something about it? Poor father/partner losing their family in one accident. Shocking for people involved too.’

Another, Richard Chew, added: ‘I think double-decker buses have ten-plus cameras on board, including front and back dash-cams.

‘So these should hold the key to this awful tragedy. Something needs to be done to make that stretch of road safer – guess the coroner may rule on that.’

Another local mother, Rowan Darlington, from Harrogate, added: ‘It seems the number of catastrophic crashes in our area has boomed this year.

‘My daughter uses that road a lot and it’s terrifying to think how quickly lives are gone. Condolences to the families that have been affected.’.

Officers at North Yorkshire Police are now appealing for witnesses, urging anyone who saw the crash or any of the vehicles prior to the collision to get in touch.

They are also asking anyone who has dashcam footage of any of the vehicles travelling along the A61 before the collision, or of the crash itself, to contact them.

The road was closed to allow all emergency services to attend the collision and for investigators to examine the scene. It reopened at about 11.30pm on Sunday night.

Sergeant Paul Cording, a roads policing sergeant and senior investigating officer at North Yorkshire Police, said on X: ‘Such utterly tragic news as three people confirmed dead following a collision on the A61 between Harrogate and Ripon. My thoughts are with all those affected by this devastating incident.’

Anyone who can help is urged to email [email protected] or call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and pass information for incident 12230166439

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