An RAF pilot who killed four members of a family in a suicidal motorway crash would have faced manslaughter charges had he survived, an inquest has heard.
Richard Woods, 40, was driving the wrong way on the M6 near Tenby, Cumbria, on October 15, 2024, when he collided head-on with a family’s car, killing Jaroslaw Rossa, 42, his partner Jade McEnroe, 33, and their two sons, Filip, 15, and Dominic, 7. Woods, who was found to be four times over the legal drink-drive limit and carrying a two-thirds empty bottle of gin in his car, had driven 1.1 miles in the wrong direction before the crash.
The inquest revealed that Woods would have been charged with four counts of manslaughter if he had survived the incident. Detective Sergeant Deborah Story from Cumbria Police’s serious road collision investigation unit stated that the evidence suggested Woods deliberately caused the crash, noting that he had moved from a position where he was at risk of harm to one where he posed a significant danger to others.
“Had Woods survived, regardless of any injuries, I would have sought four charges of manslaughter,” Story confirmed.
Woods, originally from Hexham, Northumbria, had served a distinguished 14-year career as a fast jet pilot in the RAF, completing multiple tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. He had earned a commendation for his service before leaving the RAF in 2019. In the years leading up to the crash, Woods had struggled with anxiety and alcohol use, for which he had sought professional help.
The tragedy also saw the miraculous survival of seven-year-old Arran Rossa, the son of the deceased couple, who was pulled from the wreckage by a workman after the car caught fire. The quick-thinking workman used a jack to smash the rear windscreen of the vehicle and rescue the boy.
Woods’ family, who live in Ely, Cambridgeshire, have yet to comment on the inquest’s findings.
This devastating crash has raised questions about the pressures faced by those in high-stakes careers, such as the military, and the need for better mental health support for those struggling with personal and professional challenges.
