A former RAF pilot took his own life and caused the deaths of four others in a devastating head-on motorway collision while nearly four times over the legal alcohol limit, an inquest has revealed.
Richard Woods, 40, a former flight lieutenant and squadron leader, deliberately drove his Skoda the wrong way down the M6 near Tebay services in Cumbria on October 15, Cockermouth Coroners’ Court was told.
The crash resulted in the tragic deaths of Toyota driver Jaroslaw Rossa, 42, from Glasgow, along with his two sons, 15-year-old Filip and seven-year-old Dominic, and his partner, 33-year-old Jade McEnroe.
Assistant Cumbria coroner Margaret Taylor ruled Woods’ death as suicide, describing his actions as deliberate and devastating.
A Troubled Past
The court heard that Woods had served in the Royal Air Force for 14 years before working as an instructor pilot at BAE Systems. However, he struggled with anxiety and alcohol dependency, for which he had been receiving professional treatment.
On the day of the crash, Woods had travelled to Lancashire for a conference, where he was suspected to be under the influence of alcohol after falling asleep during a lecture.
Later, witnesses reported seeing him driving erratically on the northbound M6, drifting across lanes before pulling onto the hard shoulder and making a sudden U-turn into oncoming traffic.
Despite nearly colliding with another vehicle moments earlier, Woods did not slow down or attempt to avoid the fatal impact with the Toyota.
A Deadly Collision
Eyewitnesses described the moment of impact as a “loud explosion”. One motorist recounted that Rossa, the Toyota driver, “had no time to react” before the crash.
Investigators found Woods’ speedometer frozen at 65mph, suggesting he may have been travelling even faster at the time of the collision. A nearly empty bottle of gin was discovered in his vehicle, and his mobile phone records revealed 26 searches related to suicide prior to the crash.
Det Sgt Deb Story from Cumbria Police’s serious collision investigation unit concluded: “I would say that it was a deliberate act.”
A Family’s Grief
Woods’ father, Keith Woods, described his son as “a decent, honourable man, modest and kind towards others, just a troubled soul who lost his way.”
Meanwhile, the families of the victims now face an unimaginable loss. An inquest into their deaths is set to take place in April.
The tragedy has raised renewed concerns about drink-driving and mental health support for former military personnel. Authorities continue to urge anyone struggling with their mental health to seek help before such irreversible actions occur.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
