A father-of-two who died after being struck by a car while running near Stretham had taken up the sport following a high-profile fraud trial in the United States, an inquest has revealed. Stephen Chamberlain, 52, sustained fatal injuries when he was hit by a Vauxhall car on the A1123 on August 17th, 2023. His life support was withdrawn three days later.
The inquest heard that Mr. Chamberlain, a former finance executive, had been cleared of fraud in June 2023, alongside Cambridge entrepreneur Mike Lynch. Both men were accused of inflating the revenues of software company Autonomy, which was sold to Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011, but a US court found them not guilty.
Mr. Chamberlain’s widow, Karen Chamberlain, stated that he turned to running during the period following the fraud charges. “He discovered it helped him mentally stay calm and focus on what was ahead,” she said in a statement. She described how he would meticulously plan his routes and competed in ultra-distance races, always prioritising safety by wearing one earbud while leaving the other ear open to surrounding sounds.
The inquest detailed how Mr. Chamberlain had been running from Ely towards Longstanton, six miles into his 17-mile planned route when the collision occurred. Witnesses described how the driver of the car, travelling within the 60mph speed limit, had little time to react as Mr. Chamberlain entered the road near a humpback bridge.
Grahame Cornwall, a motorbike rider who witnessed the incident, stated that Mr. Chamberlain was thrown approximately fifteen feet into the air, and the collision occurred within a matter of seconds. A police forensic collision investigator, PC Ian Masters, concluded that the collision was “not avoidable” given the location and circumstances.
The coroner, Caroline Jones, recorded a conclusion of death by road traffic collision. She expressed concerns about the visibility issues caused by the humpback bridge and indicated she would be contacting Cambridgeshire County Council to discuss potential safety improvements.
Family members paid tribute to Mr. Chamberlain, describing him as a dedicated father, a respected professional, and a man who found solace and strength in running following his legal battles. His daughter, Ella, described him as the “perfect role model”, while his son, Teddy, said he was “the glue of our family.”
The family’s statement, read outside court, revealed lingering questions surrounding the case and indicated they would be seeking further investigation. Mrs. Chamberlain shared that her husband’s immediate thought after acquittal was to “make memories” with his family.
