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M6 crash horror as ex-RAF pilot kills family by driving wrong way to take his own life
Richard Woods, 40, was almost four times the legal drink-drive limit at the time of the fatal crash on October 15 last year which led to the deaths of five people including two children
A former RAF pilot tragically ended his own life and caused the death of four others, including two children, when he intentionally drove into oncoming traffic on a motorway, an inquest has revealed. The fatal collision occurred on the M6 in Cumbria.
Richard John Woods, 40, was found to be nearly four times over the legal drink-drive limit at the time of the devastating crash on October 15 last year. He was behind the wheel of a blue Skoda Fabia, driving in the wrong direction on the motorway, when he collided head-on with a Toyota Yaris on the northbound carriageway just after 4pm.
The inquest at Cockermouth Coroners' Court heard that a two-thirds empty bottle of gin was discovered in the wreckage of the Skoda. The Toyota caught fire upon impact, resulting in the immediate death of four out of its five passengers.
Jaroslaw Rossa, 42, who was driving the Toyota, his partner Jade McEnroe, 33, and their two children, Filip, five, and Dominic, seven, all perished at the scene. Miraculously, Jade's seven-year-old son Arran survived the horrific incident, albeit with serious injuries.
The inquest shed light on Mr Woods' background, revealing that he was born in Hexham but resided in Cambridgeshire. In his youth, he was an accomplished piano and trumpet player, even performing for the Queen in Newcastle, reports the Express .
His career path led him to become a flight lieutenant and subsequently a squadron leader as a fast jet pilot.
Mr Woods had a distinguished 14-year tenure with the RAF, during which he served two tours in Afghanistan and three in Iraq. He was awarded one commendation before leaving the force in 2019.
However, the inquest revealed that he had sought professional help for his struggles with alcohol. Mr Woods also had a history of anxiety.
In a counselling session, he spoke about his past work as a fighter jet operator, saying: "I dropped bombs. It was just a job." The counsellor concluded that he was keen to turn his life around and get back on track.
On October 14 last year, Mr Woods attended a flight safety conference at Ribby Hall Village near Preston. He stayed overnight in a hotel but dozed off during the conference the next day.
His snoring during the morning lectures led some attendees to suspect he was under the influence of alcohol. Mr Woods then failed to attend the afternoon session before setting off north on the M6.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing his Skoda around 3.30pm, driving erratically across all three lanes. One witness, Bryony Bedborough, told police: "We were terrified as to what was going to happen."
She added that he appeared to be either drunk or on drugs", "like he was zoned out, in his own bubble".After pulling onto the hard shoulder, Mr Woods made a sudden U-turn across the motorway. He then intentionally drove south down the northbound carriageway for over a mile.He narrowly avoided a collision with one driver, Gavin Howe, who described seeing a "blue blur". He said: "How I managed to avoid this vehicle was unbelievable.
"Mr Woods continued driving without braking or avoiding other vehicles and collided head-on with the Yaris, an event one motorist described as a "loud explosion". After pulling on to the hard shoulder, Mr Woods made a sudden U-turn across the motorway. He then deliberately drove south down the northbound carriageway for over a mile. He almost crashed with one motorist, Gavin Howe, who recalled a "debris raining down from above. "
Daily Star Sunday
Richard Woods, 40, was almost four times the legal drink-drive limit at the time of the fatal crash on October 15 last year which led to the deaths of five people including two children
A former RAF pilot tragically ended his own life and caused the death of four others, including two children, when he intentionally drove into oncoming traffic on a motorway, an inquest has revealed. The fatal collision occurred on the M6 in Cumbria.
Richard John Woods, 40, was found to be nearly four times over the legal drink-drive limit at the time of the devastating crash on October 15 last year. He was behind the wheel of a blue Skoda Fabia, driving in the wrong direction on the motorway, when he collided head-on with a Toyota Yaris on the northbound carriageway just after 4pm.
The inquest at Cockermouth Coroners' Court heard that a two-thirds empty bottle of gin was discovered in the wreckage of the Skoda. The Toyota caught fire upon impact, resulting in the immediate death of four out of its five passengers.
Jaroslaw Rossa, 42, who was driving the Toyota, his partner Jade McEnroe, 33, and their two children, Filip, five, and Dominic, seven, all perished at the scene. Miraculously, Jade's seven-year-old son Arran survived the horrific incident, albeit with serious injuries.
The inquest shed light on Mr Woods' background, revealing that he was born in Hexham but resided in Cambridgeshire. In his youth, he was an accomplished piano and trumpet player, even performing for the Queen in Newcastle, reports the Express .
His career path led him to become a flight lieutenant and subsequently a squadron leader as a fast jet pilot.
Mr Woods had a distinguished 14-year tenure with the RAF, during which he served two tours in Afghanistan and three in Iraq. He was awarded one commendation before leaving the force in 2019.
However, the inquest revealed that he had sought professional help for his struggles with alcohol. Mr Woods also had a history of anxiety.
In a counselling session, he spoke about his past work as a fighter jet operator, saying: "I dropped bombs. It was just a job." The counsellor concluded that he was keen to turn his life around and get back on track.
On October 14 last year, Mr Woods attended a flight safety conference at Ribby Hall Village near Preston. He stayed overnight in a hotel but dozed off during the conference the next day.
His snoring during the morning lectures led some attendees to suspect he was under the influence of alcohol. Mr Woods then failed to attend the afternoon session before setting off north on the M6.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing his Skoda around 3.30pm, driving erratically across all three lanes. One witness, Bryony Bedborough, told police: "We were terrified as to what was going to happen."
She added that he appeared to be either drunk or on drugs", "like he was zoned out, in his own bubble".After pulling onto the hard shoulder, Mr Woods made a sudden U-turn across the motorway. He then intentionally drove south down the northbound carriageway for over a mile.He narrowly avoided a collision with one driver, Gavin Howe, who described seeing a "blue blur". He said: "How I managed to avoid this vehicle was unbelievable.
"Mr Woods continued driving without braking or avoiding other vehicles and collided head-on with the Yaris, an event one motorist described as a "loud explosion". After pulling on to the hard shoulder, Mr Woods made a sudden U-turn across the motorway. He then deliberately drove south down the northbound carriageway for over a mile. He almost crashed with one motorist, Gavin Howe, who recalled a "debris raining down from above. "
Daily Star Sunday