RAF pilot who killed family driving wrong way on M6 would have faced charges if he survived

Jade McEnroe, 33, her partner Jaroslaw Rossa, 42, and his two sons Filip, 15, and seven-year-old Dominic, died when they were hit by a Skoda Fabia, driven by Richard Woods, on the M6

A former RAF pilot "drove with suicidal intent" before killing a family in a head-on smash on the M6 motorway would have been charged with manslaughter had he survived, an inquest heard.

Jade McEnroe, 33, her partner Jaroslaw Rossa, 42, and his two sons Filip, 15, and seven-year-old Dominic, died when they were hit by a Skoda Fabia, driven by Richard Woods, on the M6.

Relatives of the family, who were returning home to Glasgow after a trip to Legoland in Windsor, believed they'd been murdered by Mr Woods, however a coroner has ruled they were unlawfully killed.

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An inquest at Cockermouth Coroner's Court heard that Mr Woods had carried out several searches on his phone relating to suicide in the armed forces ahead of the fatal smash near Tebay in Cumbria on October 15 last year.

Eye-witnesses reported seeing the Skoda Fabia do a U-turn on the hard shoulder, between junctions 38 and 39, before heading the wrong way down the motorway in lane three, LancsLive reports.

Dashcam footage from a vehicle travelling behind the Toyota Yaris being driven by Jaroslaw showed headlights appear in the distance moments before the two cars collided.

The inquest was told the Yaris burst into flames and flipped over onto the hard shoulder as brave motorists desperately tried to pull the family out.

Jade's son Arran, who was seven at the time, was rescued through the back windscreen and airlifted to hospital in Newcastle.

The inquest was told both Jade and Filip were still alive when the car caught fire.

Jaroslaw had suffered severe internal injuries and Dominic suffered liver and skull injuries.

Detective Sergeant Deb Story, from Cumbria Police's serious collision investigation unit, told the inquest: "In the Skoda we found a bottle of gin on the parcel shelf. It was about two thirds empty. He was four times the legal limit for alcohol."

The officer said police had considered four possible hypotheses for Mr Woods driving the wrong way down the motorway; suicide, intoxication and suicide, disorientation or murder.

Despite Jade's mum saying "it's definitely murder, no doubt about it", DS Story said murder had been discounted because the force would have needed to show there was an "intent to kill".

Instead, officers concluded that manslaughter was relevant because while Mr Woods had intended to end his own life, his actions had been "completely reckless".

The officer said there had been evidence that he decided against colliding with HGVs "where only he would be likely to be harmed".

DS Story added: "Had Mr Woods survived, regardless of any injuries, I would have sought charges of manslaughter from the CPS."

Assistant Coroner Margaret Taylor returned a conclusion of unlawful killing in relation to the deaths of Jade, Jaroslaw, Filip and Dominic, adding that Mr Woods had "drove with suicidal intent at speed heading south and made no attempt to avoid any oncoming traffic".

She continued: "I am not permitted to name the person responsible. I accept, however, that given the evidence we have heard about the tragic circumstances of these deaths it will be very apparent that responsibility rests with the driver of the Skoda."

An inquest into Mr Woods' death, which was held separately last week, concluded his death was a suicide.

In a statement, his father Keith said: "Richard was a decent, honourable man, modest and kind towards others; just a troubled soul who lost his way."

The hearing heard that Mr Woods had served as a flight lieutenant before becoming squadron leader during a distinguished 14-year RAF career as a fast jet pilot.

Before he left the RAF in 2019, he toured Afghanistan twice, completed three tours of Iraq, receiving a commendation for one.