Inquests have been opened after four family members 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, Cockermouth Coroners’ Court heard today, and claimed the lives of five people in total.
Jaroslaw Rossa, 42, tragically died along with two of his sons, 15-year-old Filip and seven-year-old Dominic, and his partner, Jade McEnroe, 33. All were pronounced dead at the scene.
As she formally opened inquests into their deaths this morning, assistant Cumbria coroner Margaret Taylor outlined some brief circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
“I understand that Jaroslaw was believed to be driving a Toyota Yaris motor vehicle on the M6 northbound with his family in the car. Another, Skoda, vehicle collided head-on with Jaroslaw’s’ vehicle, causing a serious road traffic collision and vehicle fire,” said the coroner.
The crash happened at just after 4pm between junctions 38 and 39, and also claimed the life of Skoda driver Richard John Woods, a flight instructor who lived in Cambridgeshire.
He had been heading south on the northbound carriageway at the time of the collision, police confirmed.
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 unascertained 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 lived at Kilvaxter Drive, and Jade at Kilmuir Road, both in the Thornliebank area on the outskirts of Glasgow. His two sons lived to the east of the city.
Ms Taylor said she hoped that a full inquest could get under way on April 3 next year, although she said: “Much is dependent upon the state of our enquiries and whether or not they have been completed,” she concluded.
Moving tributes had been paid following the tragedy.
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 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.
