Richard Woods: Suicidal ex-RAF pilot took own life and killed four others in head-on motorway crash, inquest rules | UK News

A former fighter pilot took his own life and killed four others when he drove the wrong way down the M6 ​​while drunk, an investigation ruled.

Richard Woods, 40, deliberately drove his Skoda head-to-up in a Toyota on the highway near Tebay Services Cumbria On October 15 last year, Cockerhouth Coroner’s Court officially recorded.

Jaroslaw Rossa, 42, the manager of the Toyota, and his two sons, Filip (15), and Dominic, seven, are with Mr. Rossa’s partner, Jade Mcenroe, 33, was declared dead at the scene.

All four were from Glassgow.

Assistant Coroner Margaret Taylor on Thursday made a statement of suicide for Mr. Woods returned.

It is said that his cause of death was ‘multiple injuries’.

The investigation heard how Mr. Woods, of Cambridgeshireserved a distinctive career of 14 years in the RAF and was a flight instructor for Bae Systems at the time of his death.

In Ms Taylor’s record of the investigation, it is said that Mr. Woods ‘experienced a number of stressors in his life’ and had a ‘history of harmful use of alcohol’.

On the day of his death, concerns were expressed about his behavior at a work conference near Preston in Lancashire.

Ms Taylor wrote: “It is thought to have been drinking alcohol.”

Mr. Woods could not return to his seat after lunch and later spotted and drove across three northward tray roads on the M6.

After pulling on the hard shoulder, he went to U-Turn and drove south on lane three.

Ms Taylor said: “Richard did not take any steps to change his position on the road or apply his breaks.

“His car collided head-to-the-Toyota Yaris. The Toyota driver had no opportunity to respond or act to avoid the collision.

“Richard died due to multiple injuries sustained on the impact.”

Toxicology reports, at the time of his death, “high levels of alcohol” in the blood of Mr. Woods revealed.

A forensic examination of his phone also showed several searches on suicide.

Ms Taylor wrote: “On the balance of probabilities, Richard Woods drove purposefully on October 15, 2024, in a southerly direction on the northward tray in lane three on the M6 ​​highway for the purpose of ending his own life.”

Read more from Sky News:
Man who killed pensioner for life
81 trapped after the earthquake skyscraper collapsed

After the fatal collision, Philip and Dominic’s mother, Kamila, brought a deep tribute to her ‘beloved angels’.

She described Philip as’ very intelligent, sensitive and full of love ‘and added:’ He was fascinated by computer games, but also incredibly good with chess. He loved chemistry and dreamed of studying at the University of Glasgow.

‘Dominic was always smiling, very determined and cozy. He was a lot of caring, always thought 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 everything likes penguins and dreams of adopting one.

“Our lives will never be the same again.”

Anyone who feels emotionally distressed or suicide can call Samaritans at 116 123 or jo@samaritans.org in the UK e -mail. Call the Samaritans branch in your area in the US or 1 (800) 273 talk.