A MUCH-admired local woman has died in South America while on a round-the-world cycling trip. Sharon Bridgman (38), died after being struck by a vehicle, believed to have been a Toyota Land Cruiser, while travelling through Bolivia with her husband Tim. The couple, from Zeal Monachorum, had been cycling around the world since June 2012 and had already travelled through Europe and Africa without major incident. Sharon, a charity worker, is believed to have died instantly in the collision, near the border with Chile. She and Tim, a carpenter, set off from Norway in June 2012. They were on the "return leg" of the three-year "North2North" tour, aiming to raise £10,000 for the disaster relief charity ShelterBox and were heading to Alaska. The couple, both experienced cyclists, had been due to return to the UK in three weeks for the wedding of a friend, Andrew Bowyer, with Mr Bridgman being best man. All three were members of Okehampton Cycling Club. Mrs Bridgman was believed to have been about 100m to 200m behind her husband, riding in a remote desert region 270 miles of the Bolivian capital La Paz, when she was hit from behind on the dirt track route by the 4X4 Toyota Land Cruiser at about 4.30pm on Saturday afternoon. DRIVER ARRESTED At the time they were near the famous Uyuni salt flats, the largest in the world. The driver was arrested by police and, at the last report, was in custody awaiting a court appearance. Mr Bowyer was reported as saying after the incident: "It was a really quiet road and there was no traffic on it. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. They are just really passionate cyclists and love cycle touring." Robert Szembek, chairman of Okehampton Cycling Club, said: "It was their ambition to do this trip. They married a few years ago but had known each other for a long time before then. They were a lovely couple, very, very popular in the club." He said the couple had been on what was meant to be "a great adventure". He added: "It is not what you expect to hear, especially when they went right through Africa and rode through some doubtful areas known for problems and had taken precautions like not camping by the road. "Everyone appreciates the danger in cycling. But you think it is a big open road and not much traffic, you think they are going to be reasonably safe." Mr Szembek added he was told the Bridgmans may have been travelling with another couple at the time and the driver of the vehicle had been arrested. Mrs Bridgman was cycling a short distance either ahead or behind the others when she was hit, he said. The area police chief, Marcelo Tejerina, said: "The driver stopped and called police. He has now been arrested and his vehicle impounded, which is standard practice after a fatal road accident.