A decorated ex-RAF fighter pilot took his own life by driving the wrong way along a motorway and head-on into another car, killing four people, an inquest heard.
Richard John Woods, 40, was almost four times the legal drink-drive limit when his blue Skoda Fabia ploughed into a Toyota Yaris on the M6 northbound carriageway in Cumbria on October 15 last year.
Woods had made more than 20 searches covering suicide prior to the incident, an inquest into his death was told.
The crash saw a fireball engulf the Glasgow-bound Toyota and four of its five occupants, including two children, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Jaroslaw Rossa, aged 42, died along with his children, 15-year-old Filip and seven-year-old Dominic.
Mr Rossa’s partner, Jade McEnroe, aged 33, also died but her son Arran, also seven, survived the tragedy despite suffering serious injuries.
A two-thirds empty bottle of gin was found in Woods’ crashed Skoda in the wake of the incident.
Cockermouth Coroners’ Court heard Woods had set off from a flight safety conference at Ribby Hall Village near Preston, Lancashire, prior to the incident.
Jaroslaw Rossa and sons Dominic and Filip were killed along with Jade McEnroe. Her son Arran Martin, right, was the only survivor
As the Yaris flipped on to its side and was engulfed in flames, bystanders rushed to try and help, with emergency services quickly on scene
During morning lectures, he was heard snoring and others felt he may have been under the influence of alcohol.
He failed to show up for the afternoon session and instead headed north on the M6.
At around 3.30pm, eyewitnesses initially saw his Skoda travelling northbound. It was drifting between all three lanes, travelling erratically.
Witness Bryony Bedborough later told police: ‘We were terrified as to what was going to happen,’ adding that he looked ‘like he was either drunk or on drugs’.
She described Woods as looking ‘like he was zoned out, in his own bubble’.
Woods pulled on to the hard shoulder before making a sudden U-turn across the northbound carriageway, heading south in a straight line for more than a mile.
There was one near-miss with a vehicle, Gavin Howe recalling a ‘blue blur’, swerving and reflecting: ‘How I managed to avoid this vehicle was unbelievable.’
Woods travelled on, neither braking nor taking any evasive action as he collided with the Yaris head-on. Police found he was likely travelling at around 70mph at the time of the collision.
Jade McEnroe and Jaroslaw Rossa were travelling back to Glasgow with their children when the tragedy happened
The M6 motorway remained closed on Tuesday night as police remained on the scene
At around 3.30pm, eyewitnesses initially saw his Skoda travelling northbound. It was drifting between all three lanes, travelling erratically
One motorist recalled a ‘loud explosion’ and ‘debris raining down from above’.
‘The driver of the (Yaris) had no time to react,’ according to witness Gavin Walsh.
As the Yaris flipped on to its side and was engulfed in flames, bystanders rushed to try and help, with emergency services quickly on scene.
Woods died 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, concluded after considering all evidence that Mr Woods had wanted to end his life.
She told yesterday’s hearing: ‘I would say that it was a deliberate act. Had Mr Woods survived, I would have presented the case seeking a charge of manslaughter.’
Assistant Cumbria coroner Ms Margaret Taylor, recorded a conclusion of suicide and called the incident a ‘catastrophe’.
Ms 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.’
This photo (taken by a traffic camera) shows the traffic build up following the collision on the M6 northbound in Cumbria around 4pm
Jade McEnroe, pictured, also died but her son Arran, also seven, survived the tragedy despite suffering serious injuries
The hearing was told Woods, originally from Hexham, Northumbria, was a flight lieutenant and then squadron leader during a distinguished 14-year RAF career as a fast jet pilot.
He toured Afghanistan twice, completed three tours of Iraq – receiving a commendation for one – before leaving the RAF in 2019.
He latterly worked for BAE Systems, based at RAF Marham in Norfolk, as a lead contractor instructor pilot.
The inquest heard he had a history of anxiety and detrimental alcohol use, for which he latterly received professional help.
He told a counsellor of his previous fighter jet work: ‘I dropped bombs. It was just a job.’
That counsellor ultimately formed the view he wanted to improve his life and get back on track.
In a statement read to the inquest, Mr Woods’ father, Keith said: ‘Richard was a decent, honourable man, modest and kind towards others; just a troubled soul who lost his way.’
An inquest into the deaths of Jaroslaw, Filip and Dominic Rossa and Jade McEnroe is due to be held at Cockermouth on April 3.
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