Police reveal M6 driver's horror decisions in 61 seconds before family killed (2025)

A family were on their way back from Legoland when a man drove the wrong way on the motorway on the M6 in Shap, Cumbria

A heartbroken mum says her life 'will never be the same' after losing both of her sons in a head-on crash on the M6 as police revealed horrific details of the collision.

Jaroslaw Rossa was travelling with his sons, Filip and Dominic, on their way back home from Legoland. They were with Jarsolaw's partner, Jade McEnroe, and her son Arran.

The family were travelling in Jaroslaw's Toyota Yaris when a blue Skoda Fabia, driven by Richard Woods, was also making his way north on the M6.

An inquest heard how his Skoda was seen swerving onto the hard shoulder and 'kicking up dust', before making a sudden U-turn to drive in the wrong direction on the northbound carriageway, in lane three.

The two cars collided, with the Yaris bursting into flames and Jade, Jaroslaw, Filip and Dominic all killed instantly, Lancs Live reports. Mr Woods, who police say intended to take his own life, also died in the collision.

An officer told the inquest that had Mr Woods survived, police would have sought to charge him with manslaughter.

The inquest into the deaths of Jade, Jaroslaw, Filip and Dominic, which is taking place today (April 3), heard that they had to be identified through DNA due to their bodies being badly burned in the car fire.

The family had travelled south from their home in Glasgow to Legoland on October 13 last year. They stayed in an Airbnb in Windsor, visiting Legoland on October 15, before heading home.

Jaroslaw, who was born in Poland, had only recently got his Yaris, which was specially adapted as he had a prosthetic leg due to having his own amputated several years earlier.

He was identified by DNA and by cross-referencing CCTV from Legoland while Jade, 33, was identified through a sample provided by her mum Marie and the two boys were identified by DNA from their mother and a toothbrush.

Police reveal details around crash including 61 seconds before

Mr Woods, a former RAF pilot from Cambridgeshire, had attended a conference in Lancashire. He made his deadly U-turn near to junction 39 near Shap, in Cumbria.

The inquest heard several statements from witnesses who saw Mr Harris driving on the M6 just before the crash. One said: "He looked like he was either drunk or on drugs.

"He was staring ahead with his hands poker straight on the steering wheel.

"It was like he was zoned out and in his own bubble."

Detective Sergeant Deb Story, of Cumbria Police's serious collision investigation unit, revealed that there had been no evidence of the Skoda braking prior to the collision - while Mr Harris was over the limit for alcohol at the time of the crash.

She added: "From the point of the U-turn to the point of the collision it's 1.1 miles. If based on the speedometer, the Skoda travelling at 65mph for 1.1 miles, that would have put him in that lane for 61 seconds.

"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."

Jade's mum Marie suggested the case was 'definitely murder, no doubt about it' - but DS Story explained that murder was discounted because the police would need to show there was an 'intent to kill'.

DS Story said that the fact Mr Woods chose to travel in lane three 'where HGVs cannot drive' showed that his actions went beyond causing death by dangerous driving.

DS Story said: "He's now not putting himself against those larger vehicles where only he would be likely to be harmed. He is putting himself against smaller vans and cars where the risk of harm to other people is high.

"He then drives head on into the Toyota not having braked and that is why my assessment was manslaughter and had Mr Woods survived, regardless of any injuries, I would have sought charges of manslaughter from the CPS."

The inquest is due to conclude later today. Conclusions could include road traffic collision and unlawful killing which covers the offences of both murder and manslaughter.

Motorist saved boy

One motorist rang 999 after he narrowly avoided colliding with the Skoda. He later said in a statement: "I suddenly I saw a blue vehicle travelling towards me southbound.

"I only had a couple of seconds to react. I swerved into lane two narrowly missing the oncoming vehicle. How I managed to avoid this vehicle was unbelievable. All I saw when it passed me was a blue blur."

Shortly afterwards the Skoda collided with the Yaris being driven by 42-year-old Jaroslaw. The Yaris immediately burst into flames and other motorists pulled over to try to help.

Jade, Jaroslaw, Filip and Dominic were all killed instantly but one passing motorist managed to pull Jade's seven-year-old son Arran from the backseat.

"I could hear screams coming from the car," the motorist later told police. "I used a car jack to smash the rear windscreen. I saw a little boy on the backseat. He appeared to be stuck, possibly by his seatbelt, but he was alive."

The man managed to pull Arran from the car before it was consumed by the flames. Arran was airlifted to hospital in Newcastle and was the only survivor in the crash.

The motorist who saved his life said: "I saved a life that day and I hope never to witness anything like that again. God bless you Arran. One day I will meet you again and give you a massive hug."

'I am heartbroken'

Jade's mum Marie said in a statement: "I miss Jade every single day. I have many different emotions and I want to know why. I have days of anger and hurt. Arran keeps us going every day."

The mum of Filip and Dominic described how her sons had loved playing with Jade's son Arran. She described 15-year-old Filip as 'very intelligent' and was planning on studying chemistry at university.

"He was great with chess and won a school championship," she added. "I was so proud of him. Filip loved his dog called Daisy.

"He liked playing Minecraft. He was very sensitive and full of love. I am heartbroken at the passing of my beloved angels."

Dominic, seven, 'loved dinosaurs' and one day dreamed of adopting a penguin. He was 'a little boy who was full of energy', his mum said and added: "Our lives will never be the same again."