Ex-Top Gun pilot killed Glasgow family on M6 while driving drunk on wrong side of motorway

Richard Woods was almost four times the drink-drive limit when he ploughed into the family's Toyota Yaris on the M6 last year.

A former Top Gun pilot killed himself a family from Glasgow when he hit their car head on while driving on the wrong side of a motorway, an inquest heard today.

Richard Woods, 40, was almost four times the drink-drive limit when his blue Skoda Fabia ploughed into a Toyota Yaris on the M6 in Cumbria on Oct 15 last year.

A two-thirds empty bottle of gin was found in Mr Woods’ crashed Skoda, while a fireball engulfed the Glasgow-bound Toyota carrying a family-of-five who were driving home to Glasgow after a trip to Legoland.

Dad Jaroslaw Rossa, 42, of Glasgow, died with his children, Filip, 15, and Dominic, seven. His partner Jade McEnroe, 33, also died in the crash near Tebay services.

Her young son Arran, 7, was the soul survivor of the crash and sustained serious injuries.

Cockermouth Coroners’ Court heard how Hexham-born Mr Woods excelled at science and music in younger years, playing for the Queen in Newcastle.

He later became 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 worked for BAE Systems, based at RAF Marham, Norfolk, as an instructor pilot. He had a history of anxiety and detrimental alcohol use, for which he 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. On October 14, Mr Woods, of Cambridgeshire, travelled to Ribby Hall Village, near Preston, for a flight safety conference, staying overnight in a hotel.

At the conference the following day, he fell asleep and was heard snoring during morning lectures, possibly under the influence of alcohol. Mr Woods failed to show for the afternoon session and instead headed north on the M6.

At around 3.30pm, eyewitnesses saw his Skoda travelling northbound. It was drifting between all three lanes, travelling erratically, unsafely and dangerously according to one witness, Bryony Bedborough.

“We were terrified as to what was going to happen,” she later told police. He looked “like he was either drunk or on drugs”, “like he was zoned out, in his own bubble”.

Mr Woods pulled onto the hard shoulder before making a sudden U-turn across the northbound carriageway and into lane three, heading south in a straight line for more than a mile.

There was one 'incredible near-miss' with a vehicle, Gavin Howe recalling a “blue blur”, swerving and reflecting: “How I managed to avoid this vehicle was unbelievable.”

Mr Woods travelled on, neither braking nor taking any evasive action, as he collided with the Yaris head-on. One motorist recalled a “loud explosion” and “debris raining down from above”.

“The driver of the (Yaris) had no time to react,” reported witness Gavin Walsh. As the Yaris flipped onto its side and was engulfed in flames, bystanders rushed to try and help, with emergency services quickly on scene.

The Skoda’s speedometer was frozen at 65 mph. But the vehicle may have been travelling in speeds in excess of 70 mph at the point of impact, police found.

Mr Woods died from multiple injuries. Analysis of his mobile phone revealed 26 prior searches covering suicide and suicide of military personnel overseas.

Det Sgt Deb Story, of Cumbria police’s serious collision investigation unit, concluded after considering all evidence that Mr Woods had wanted to end his life, while intoxicated, and in doing so killed and injured others.

“I would say that it was a deliberate act,” DS Story told the hearing, adding. “Had Mr Woods survived, I would have presented the case seeking a charge of manslaughter.”

Recording a conclusion of suicide, Assistant Cumbria coroner Ms Margaret Taylor called the incident a “catastrophe”.

She added: “The only thing I can do 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, 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, Dominic and Jade is due to be held at Cockermouth on April 3.

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