A former fighter pilot took his own life and killed four others when he drove the wrong way down the M6 while drunk, an inquest has ruled.
Richard Woods, 40, deliberately drove his Skoda head-on into a Toyota on the motorway near Tebay services in Cumbria on 15 October last year, Cockermouth Coroner’s Court has officially recorded.
Jaroslaw Rossa, 42, the driver of the Toyota, and his two sons, Filip, 15, and Dominic, seven, were pronounced dead at the scene alongside Mr Rossa’s partner, Jade McEnroe, 33.
All four were from Glasgow.
On Thursday, assistant coroner Margaret Taylor returned a verdict of suicide for Mr Woods.
His cause of death was said to be “multiple injuries”.
The inquest heard how Mr Woods, from Cambridgeshire, had served a distinguished 14-year career in the RAF and was a flight instructor for BAE Systems at the time of his death.
In Ms Taylor’s record of inquest, Mr Woods was said to have been experiencing “a number of stressors in his life” and had a “history of harmful use of alcohol”.
On the day of his death, concerns had been raised over his behaviour at a work conference near Preston in Lancashire.
Ms Taylor wrote: “It was suspected he had been drinking alcohol.”
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Mr Woods failed to return to his seat after lunch and was later spotted driving erratically and swerving across three northbound carriageway lanes on the M6.
After pulling onto the hard shoulder, he then proceeded to U-turn and drove southward on lane three.
Ms Taylor said: “Richard took no action to alter his position on the road or apply his breaks.
“His car collided head-on with the Toyota Yaris. The driver of the Toyota had no opportunity to react or take action to avoid the collision.
“Richard died as a consequence of multiple injuries sustained upon impact.”
Toxicology reports revealed “high levels of alcohol” in Mr Woods’ blood at the time of his death.
A forensic examination of his phone also showed multiple searches on suicide.
Ms Taylor wrote: “On the balance of probabilities, on 15 October 2024 Richard Woods drove purposefully at speed in a southerly direction on the northbound carriageway in lane three on the M6 motorway with the intention of ending his own life.”
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Following the fatal collision, Filip and Dominic’s mother Kamila paid a heartfelt tribute to her “beloved angels”.
She described Filip as “very intelligent, sensitive and full of love”, adding: “He was fascinated by computer games but also incredibly good at chess. He loved chemistry and dreamed of studying at the University of Glasgow.
“Dominic was always smiling, very resolute and sociable. He was extremely caring, always thinking of others first, and the first to help if someone was in trouble.
“Always surrounded by a group of friends of all ages. He loved dinosaurs and Pokémon, but most of all he loved penguins and dreamed of adopting one.
“Our lives will never be the same again.”
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.
