Since June 2012, Sharon Bridgman had been on an around-the-world cycling trip with her husband, Tim. While traveling through Bolivia on Saturday, she was struck by a vehicle and killed instantly. The driver was arrested at the scene and is currently in custody awaiting a court appearance.

“The driver stopped and called police. He has now been arrested and his vehicle impounded, which is standard practice after a fatal road accident,” said local police chief Marcelo Tejerina, according to the Daily Mail.

The couple had already covered Europe and Africa on their journey that would have spanned 32 countries and three continents. The trek was a fundraiser for ShelterBox, a disaster relief charity. Bridgman, 38, was riding with her husband and possibly two other people near the world’s largest salt flats, Uyuni, located in southwest Boliva near the border with Chile at the time of the accident. She was ahead of her husband and had swerved to the left for unknown reasons and collided with the vehicle.

The two were members of the Okehampton Cycling Club, which is their hometown in the United Kingdom. The club’s chairman, Robert Szembek, said their expedition was supposed to be “a great adventure.”

“It is not what you expect to hear, especially when they went right through Africa,” he said, according to BBC. “Seeing many of their photos, it is just the two of them and not much traffic at all.

“They’d already done what I would describe as some of the more dangerous countries on their route through Africa without any real problems. Tim had his bike stolen at one point and had to have a replacement flown out but that was the worst thing that had happened.”

While additional details about the accident are not yet known, ShelterBox’s CEO Alison Wallace released a statement regarding Bridgman’s death.

“The Bridgmans’ cycle journey showed their immense determination, enterprise, and generosity of spirit,” she said. “We are very proud and grateful that they chose ShelterBox to benefit from their latest fundraising adventure, and it is beyond sadness that it has ended in such tragedy. Our hearts go out to Tim and to all Sharon’s family and friends at this desperately sad time.”

Image courtesy of North 2 North Cycle Tour Wordpress Blog