An inquest revealed that a former RAF pilot, Richard John Woods, intentionally drove into oncoming traffic, causing a fatal crash that claimed his own life and the lives of four other individuals.
A former RAF pilot, Richard John Woods, 40, was found responsible for his own death and the deaths of four others in a tragic motorway crash. The incident occurred on the M6 in Cumbria on October 15, 2022, when Woods, nearly four times over the legal drink-drive limit, drove his blue Skoda Fabia the wrong way down the motorway. His vehicle collided head-on with a Toyota Yaris travelling north. A two-thirds empty bottle of gin was discovered in Woods' wreckage.
The Toyota caught fire, tragically killing four of its five passengers: Jaroslaw Rossa, 42, the driver; his partner Jade McEnroe, 33; and their children Filip, 5, and Dominic, 7. Jade's seven-year-old son, Arran, survived despite serious injuries. Woods, born in Hexham and residing in Cambridgeshire, had a distinguished 14-year career as a Royal Air Force pilot. He served tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, receiving a commendation before leaving the RAF in 2019. Before the crash, Woods had attended a flight safety conference but fell asleep during the morning sessions, leading some attendees to suspect alcohol consumption. Witnesses reported seeing Woods' Skoda driving erratically, weaving between lanes, shortly before the crash. He made a sudden U-turn across the motorway, driving south in the northbound carriageway for over a mile before colliding with the Toyota. A witness described it as a 'loud explosion' and 'debris raining down'. Passenger of the Toyota described having 'no time to react'. Police concluded that Woods was traveling at speeds of 70 mph or higher when he crashed. Woods also died in the collision. Analysis of his phone revealed 26 previous searches related to suicide and military personnel taking their own lives overseas. Detective Sergeant Deb Story stated, 'I would say that it was a deliberate act,' adding, 'Had Mr Woods survived, I would have presented the case seeking a charge of manslaughter.'
Car Crash M6 RAF Pilot Intoxication Suicide Multiple Fatalities Cumbria
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