A young family’s life was cut short in a heart-wrenching tragedy when a former RAF pilot, nearly four times over the legal alcohol limit, intentionally drove the wrong way down the M6 in Cumbria, resulting in a fatal head-on collision. This devastating incident, which occurred on October 15 last year, left four people dead, including two young children, and one survivor who was seriously injured.
Richard John Woods, a 40-year-old former fast jet pilot, was behind the wheel of a blue Skoda Fabia when he drove against oncoming traffic on the northbound carriageway. At around 4pm, his vehicle collided with a Toyota Yaris carrying five passengers, leading to a catastrophic crash. Four of them, Jaroslaw Rossa, 42, his partner Jade McEnroe, 33, and their two children, Filip, five, and Dominic, seven, tragically lost their lives at the scene. Only Jade’s seven-year-old son, Arran, survived, albeit with severe injuries.
An inquest at Cockermouth Coroners’ Court revealed that a nearly empty bottle of gin was found in the wrecked Skoda, and Woods was nearly four times over the legal limit. Eyewitnesses had already reported his erratic driving shortly before the crash, with one describing how he swerved across lanes like someone “zonked out” on alcohol or drugs.
Woods, originally from Hexham but living in Cambridgeshire, had a remarkable career in the RAF, rising to the rank of squadron leader after serving two tours in Afghanistan and three in Iraq. But beneath his decorated military life lay a troubled history of alcohol abuse and anxiety. At a counselling session, he had revealed that his job as a fighter pilot, where he dropped bombs, felt “just like a job.” In the months before the incident, Woods had sought help for his alcohol problems, but on the day of the crash, he was far from in control.
Having attended a flight safety conference at Ribby Hall Village near Preston, Woods had fallen asleep during the lectures, prompting others to suspect he was intoxicated. Later that afternoon, he made the fateful decision to drive north on the M6. Witnesses described the chaos he caused on the road before he performed a U-turn and deliberately drove against traffic for over a mile, narrowly avoiding other cars. The collision with the Toyota Yaris came without warning, and the car immediately burst into flames after the impact.
Woods, who also suffered fatal injuries in the crash, had been speeding at over 70mph, and the violent crash left debris scattered across the motorway. While emergency services rushed to the scene, it was clear that the loss of life was irreparable. A police investigation into Woods’ mobile phone revealed troubling searches about suicide, including references to military personnel who had taken their own lives.
The investigation led to the belief that Woods had intended to end his life and that the collision may have been a deliberate act. Had he survived, police would have sought charges of manslaughter.
Assistant Cumbria Coroner Margaret Taylor expressed her condolences to the bereaved families, acknowledging the unbearable grief caused by the tragedy. Richard Woods’ father, Keith, also spoke at the inquest, describing his son as a “decent, honourable man” who had simply “lost his way.”
This heartbreaking story serves as a reminder of the devastating impact that drink-driving and mental health struggles can have, not just on those directly involved, but on countless others whose lives are forever altered.
