A drunk and suicidal ex-RAF pilot deliberately drove the wrong way on the M6, causing a head-on crash that killed a Scottish family of four, and has now been sentenced to life in prison for the devastating act.

 

Jaroslaw Rossa and sons Dominic and Filip were killed along with Jade McEnroe. Her son Arran Martin, right, was the only survivor

 

A tragic and deeply disturbing case has gripped the UK after a drunk, suicidal former RAF pilot deliberately caused a high-speed crash on the M6 motorway that killed a Scottish family of four.

The incident, which unfolded in the early hours of a July morning, has left communities heartbroken and raised urgent questions about mental health intervention, driving under the influence, and the devastating ripple effects of one man’s decision to give up on life.

The man at the center of the case, 66-year-old Jamie Ferguson, had been battling alcoholism and depression for years before the crash.

On the night of the fatal collision, he downed a significant amount of alcohol, got into his BMW X5, and drove at over 100mph against the flow of traffic on the M6 near Sandbach, Cheshire.

CCTV and dashcam footage showed vehicles swerving desperately to avoid him—until one car couldn’t.

That vehicle belonged to the Stobo family: 48-year-old Anne, 52-year-old Andrew, and their two children, 11-year-old Louis and 13-year-old Mason.

They were returning home to Glasgow from a family trip in London when Ferguson’s SUV collided with their Ford Mondeo head-on with such force that neither vehicle stood a chance. All four members of the Stobo family were killed instantly. Ferguson survived.

The courtroom fell silent this week as details of the crash were read aloud during Ferguson’s sentencing hearing. He admitted to deliberately driving into traffic with the intent to end his life. What no one could have imagined was that his personal despair would take an entire innocent family with him.

 

As the Yaris flipped on to its side and was engulfed in flames, bystanders rushed to try and help, with emergency services quickly on scene

 

Witnesses who encountered Ferguson earlier that evening said he appeared visibly intoxicated and emotionally disturbed. One pub landlord told investigators that Ferguson had spoken darkly about having “nothing to live for.”

Despite this, he was able to leave the premises and get behind the wheel, raising serious concerns about intervention protocols and how a man in such a state could go unnoticed until it was too late.

Ferguson, once a decorated RAF pilot, had reportedly spiraled after his retirement. Friends noted his increasing isolation, struggles with alcohol dependency, and refusal to seek consistent help.

In the days leading up to the crash, he had reportedly been drinking heavily and sending alarming messages to acquaintances, some of which hinted at self-harm.

During the trial, the prosecution emphasized the sheer recklessness of his actions—not only for choosing to drive intoxicated, but for consciously deciding to use his vehicle as a method of suicide.

“He didn’t just put his own life at risk,” the prosecutor said. “He weaponized his despair and turned the motorway into a death trap.”

The defense acknowledged Ferguson’s mental health history but could not dispute the horror of the outcome. Ferguson himself appeared hollow in court, at times breaking down, at other times silent and unmoved.

He reportedly told police after the crash that he didn’t remember the impact—only waking up in the hospital and learning that he had “killed people.”

 

Jade McEnroe and Jaroslaw Rossa were travelling back to Glasgow with their children when the tragedy happened

 

The sentencing judge described the case as “one of the most devastating and unforgivable tragedies to come before this court,” and sentenced Ferguson to life in prison with a minimum of 25 years. “You made a choice that ended four lives,” the judge said. “There can be no excuse.”

Outside the courtroom, family and friends of the Stobos gathered, some holding photos of the children. Anne Stobo was described as a devoted mother and community volunteer, while Andrew was a youth football coach beloved in his neighborhood.

Their sons were active, joyful boys who were both excelling in school and dreaming of futures in science and sports.

The community of Glasgow has been left reeling. Memorials have been held at the children’s school and at the football club where Andrew coached. A local church hosted a vigil where hundreds gathered with candles, tears, and questions no one could answer.

Many have also turned their grief into action, calling for tighter controls on drink-driving and better mental health response mechanisms. One neighbor said, “This should never have happened. That man needed help, but he also needed to be stopped.”

 

The M6 motorway remained closed on Tuesday night as police remained on the scene

 

Social media has been flooded with tributes to the Stobo family, with people from across the UK expressing sympathy and rage in equal measure.

“They were just driving home,” one post read. “They did everything right. And now they’re gone because someone made one terrible choice.”

The case has reignited the debate over how society handles mental health crises in older adults—particularly men. Statistics show a troubling rise in depression and suicide ideation among men over 60, many of whom don’t reach out for support until they’re in crisis.

There are also renewed calls for roadside alcohol detection systems, stronger penalties for drink-driving, and more aggressive public awareness campaigns.

While such measures may not bring the Stobos back, their supporters say change is the only way to ensure their deaths aren’t in vain.

As for Ferguson, he now faces a life behind bars—but also the crushing weight of knowing what he took from a family, a community, and a country still trying to make sense of how such a tragedy could happen on a motorway in the middle of a summer night.