Inquest opens into death of man who drove wrong way down M6 killing four Scots

An inquest has been opened into the death of a man who drove the wrong way down a motorway, causing a head-on collision which killed two adults and two children heading home to Scotland.

Police were called to the tragic crash scene close to the northbound carriageway of the M6 in Cumbria — near Tebay, between Penrith and Kendal — on Tuesday, October 15.

Richard John Woods, from Cambridgeshire, was driving a Skoda southbound, which hit a Toyota head-on.

The 40-year-old flight instructor was pronounced dead at the scene.

Toyota driver Jaroslaw Rossa, 42, of Kilvaxter Drive, Glasgow, was killed along with two of his sons, Filip, aged 15, and seven-year-old Dominic. Passenger Jade McEnroe, aged 33, also died.

Her seven-year-old son, Arran, survived the crash but was badly hurt and taken to hospital in Newcastle-upon-Tyne for treatment.

Last week, deeply moving tributes to the four Toyota occupants who died were released through Cumbria police.

The boys’ mother, Kamila, said: “We are heartbroken at the passing of our beloved angels, Filip and Dominic.

Flip was “very intelligent, sensitive and full of love”. Dominic, she said, was “always smiling, very resolute and sociable”.

“Our lives will never be the same again,” added Kamila.

The parents of Jade, of Glasgow, said she was “so loved” and would be missed every day. “You are a very much-loved mummy to Arran,” they added.

An inquest into the death of Mr Woods was formally opened at Cockermouth Coroners’ Court on Thursday.

The hearing was told that he had died four days before his 41st birthday. A fingerprint officer had provided formal identification evidence.

Ms Margaret Taylor, assistant coroner for Cumbria, said of Mr Woods: “He leaves behind a family. He was a flight instructor by occupation and had been born in Northumberland.”

Outlining the brief circumstances of Mr Woods’ death, Ms Taylor told the inquest: “He died as a consequence of multiple injuries. He had been driving a car on the M6 motorway between junctions 38 and 39.

“He was driving the wrong way down the motorway when he collided with a Toyota motor vehicle containing other occupants who died at the scene alongside Mr Woods.”

Ms Taylor concluded: “Under all the circumstances, there is going to need to be an inquest into the death of Mr Woods. I am therefore adjoining this matter today until enquiries have been completed.

“It is anticipated enquiries will be completed by March 27, 2025 when it is hoped that the full inquest can proceed so that Mr Woods’ death can finally be registered.”