Inquest opens into deaths of Scots in crash with car driving wrong way on M6

Inquests have been opened after four members of a Scottish family died and a fifth was left fighting for his life when their car was hit by a vehicle travelling the wrong way on the M6.

The crash near Tebay in Cumbria on October 15 caused a fire and claimed the lives of five people in total, Cockermouth Coroners’ Court heard on Friday.

Jaroslaw Rossa, aged 42, died along with two of his sons, 15-year-old Filip and seven-year-old Dominic, and his partner, Jade McEnroe, aged 33. All were pronounced dead at the scene.

As she formally opened inquests into their deaths this morning, assistant Cumbria coroner Margaret Taylor outlined the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Dominic, 7, and Filip, 15, Rossa. Cumbria Police

“I understand that Jaroslaw was believed to be driving a Toyota Yaris motor vehicle on the M6 northbound with his family in the car,” the coroner said.

“Another Skoda vehicle collided head-on with Jaroslaw’s’ vehicle, causing a serious road traffic collision and vehicle fire.”

The crash occurred just after 4pm and also claimed the life of Skoda driver Richard John Woods, a flight instructor who lived in Cambridgeshire and had been heading south on the northbound carriageway.

During the short hearing, Ms Taylor said she had been offered causes of death for both Jaroslaw and Dominic, and outlined complex fatal injuries.

The causes of Filip’s and Jade’s deaths were both currently unconfirmed and the coroner said she was awaiting further evidence in both their cases.

Opening Jade’s inquest, Ms Taylor noted: “She was the partner of Jaroslaw and had been travelling in the same vehicle as her partner and his children when the collision occurred.”

Formal identification of all four had been confirmed by a police detective sergeant.

Jaroslaw and Jade both lived in the Thornliebank area on the outskirts of Glasgow. Jaroslaw’s two sons lived to the east of the city.

Ms Taylor said she hoped that a full inquest could start on April 3 next year, but added: “Much is dependent upon the state of our enquiries and whether or not they have been completed.”

Tributes to the family were paid following the deaths.

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,” Kamila said.

Jade’s parents 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 last month.