Susan Kilner was living a dream in the US with husband Troy and their four beautiful children, but on the weekend tragedy struck the bubbly Australian known to friends as "Suze".
Ms Kilner, 36, was killed while cycling across a bridge over Georgia's picturesque MacKay River.
It is a devastating turn on what had been a magical journey for the Kilners, who packed up and departed Australia for the US 10 years ago and created the Australian-themed Walkabout Camp & RV Park in Georgia.
"It's a very tragic accident that shouldn't have happened," Georgia State Patrol Corporal Gentry Mattox told AAP on Wednesday.
On Sunday at about 12.45pm Mr and Ms Kilner were cycling along the St Simons Island causeway when a truck driver crossed into the breakdown lane where Ms Kilner was riding, hit her and kept driving, according to Corporal Mattox.
The driver, Gary Arlen Holland Jr, is locked up in the Glynn County Detention Center facing homicide by vehicle and hit-and-run charges while Mr Kilner and his four children come to terms with their heartbreaking loss.
"There was nothing she did that was wrong," Corporal Mattox said.
"She was in the break down lane and the guy travelled across that lane and hit her from behind.
"In Georgia bicycles have just as much right on the roadway as a vehicle does."
The Kilners have become an integral part of the region and their warmth and hospitality was shared with hundreds of US and international guests who stayed at their facility to camp or take a break on road trips.
The Walkabout Park logo features a kangaroo and boomerang and their Facebook page proudly displays Australia Day messages, photos of jars of Vegemite and other links to their homeland.
Ms Kilner was originally from Melbourne.
"We moved to the United States from Australia in 2006 with the dream of one day owning a family run business that allows us to be home with our kids, teaching them daily and loving the great outdoors," the Kilners wrote on the Walkabout website.
Friends have set up a GoFundMe page seeking donations to help Mr Kilner and the couple's children, Kaitlyn, Liam, Cameron and Savannah with funeral and other costs.
"Suze's children were her whole world," Averi Stoner, a close friend of Suze's who set up the fundraising page, told AAP.
"You can see that in the family photos.
"If you have just one word to describe their whole family it is 'beautiful'."
Corporal Mattox said Holland Jr has refused to talk to authorities and alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the incident.
Holland Jr was allegedly driving a Ford F350 company truck that had equipment to pump out portable toilets.
Witnesses noticed signage on the truck, the information was passed on to authorities and Holland Jr was arrested 90 minutes later at his home, Corporal Mattox said.
If convicted of the homicide by vehicle charge he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years' jail.
