RAF pilot caused crash 'deliberately'

A RAF fighter pilot with a distinguished career killed himself and a young family after deliberately driving the wrong way down a motorway and head on into another car.

- By Richard Elias

Richard John Woods was almost four times the legal drink-drive limit when the incident occurred.

His actions led to the deaths of Jaroslav Rossa and two of his children, Filip, aged 15, and seven-year-old Dominic.

The 42-year-old's partner, Jade McEnroe, 33, also died in the crash on the M6 in Cumbria last October.

Her seven-year-old son Arran was critically injured and spent weeks in hospital but has since been released and is recovering.

Yesterday, an inquest at Cockermouth Coroner's Court was told how Woods drove his blue Skoda Fabia the wrong way along the northbound carriageway of the motorway.

Within minutes, he collided with a Toyota Yaris carrying Mr Rossa and the other victims, who were heading back to their Glasgow home.

Subsequent analysis of Woods' mobile phone revealed 26 searches covering suicide and suicide of military personnel overseas.