Richard John Woods, 40, was four times the drink drive limit when he drove the wrong way down the M6 towards traffic, hitting a Toyota and killing himself as well as most of the family onboard
A drunk ex-RAF pilot deliberately drove the wrong way on a motorway towards incoming traffic, killing himself and four others – including two children.
Richard John Woods, 40, was almost four times the legal drink-drive limit when he was behind the wheel of a blue Skoda Fabia driving down the M6 in Cumbria. Cockermouth Coroners’ Court heard how a two-thirds empty bottle of gin was found in the crashed Skoda which hit a Toyota, killing four of the five people inside as it burst into flames. Jaroslaw Rossa, 42, his partner Jade McEnroe, 33, and two children, Filip, five, and seven-year-old Dominic, all died at the scene, as did Woods.
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Proceedings heard Jade’s seven-year-old son Arran survived the tragedy, but suffered serious injuries. The inquest heard how Woods received professional help for alcohol abuse, and had a history of anxiety.
Police said the Skoda could have been travelling at 70mph or faster at the time of the crash. Woods died at the scene from multiple injuries.
Analysis of his mobile phone revealed 26 prior searches covering suicide and suicide of military personnel overseas. Det Sergt Deb Story, of Cumbria police’s serious collision investigation unit, said they had concluded Woods wanted to take his own life.
DS Story said: “I would say it was a deliberate act. Had Mr Woods survived, I would have presented the case seeking a charge of manslaughter.”
The inquest heard how during his distinguished 14-year RAF career, Woods toured Afghanistan twice and completed three tours of Iraq. He received one commendation and left the force in 2019, later telling a counsellor of his previous fighter jet work: “I dropped bombs. It was just a job.” The counsellor concluded he wanted to improve his life and get back on track.
On October 14 last year, Woods travelled to a flight safety conference at Ribby Hall Village near Preston. He stayed overnight in a hotel but fell asleep at the conference on the following day and was heard snoring during the morning lectures. Some people felt he was under the influence of alcohol and he then failed to show up to the afternoon session before heading north on the M6.
Eyewitnesses spotted his Skoda at around 3.30pm and reported it driving erratically. It was drifting between all three lanes and a witness, Bryony Bedborough, told police: “We were terrified as to what was going to happen.” She added he looked like he was “either drunk or on drugs”, adding he was “zoned out, in his own bubble”.
After pulling on to the hard shoulder, 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 “blue blur”.
He kept driving without braking or evading other vehicles and then crashed with the Yaris head-on, with one motorist recalling a “loud explosion” and “debris raining down from above”.
Gavin Walsh, a witness, said: “The driver of the Yaris had no time to react.” The Yaris flipped over and burst into a ball of flames. Other people came to help and emergency services rushed to the scene, but four people inside the vehicle tragically died.
Assistant Cumbria coroner, Ms Margaret Taylor, said: “The only thing I can do at this stage is to express my condolences to the family for the tragedy that has ensued, but also to remember those who were involved as collateral to this tragic event.”
In a statement read to the inquest, Woods’ father, Keith said: “Richard was a decent, honourable man, modest and kind towards others; just a troubled soul who lost his way.”
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