Melbourne cyclist Iman Zand killed on Dukes Highway in Brimbago

A cyclist struck and killed on the Dukes Highway in the state’s South-East was just three days from finishing a gruelling and incredible act.

Iman Zand was on a charity bike ride from Perth to Melbourne when he was struck and killed by a car on the Dukes Highway near Keith in SA. Pictures: Instagram

A cyclist killed on a rural South Australian highway was entering the final stretch of a gruelling 3400km ride raising funds for four different charities.

Iman Zand, 43, was 2900km from his starting point of Perth when tragedy struck on the Dukes Highway at Brimbago about 11.50am on November 12.

The Victorian man had left Perth on October 3, tackling the formidable Nullarbor battling head winds and intense heat.

But his determination and eternal optimism had carried him through, cycling his way through South Australia and was on the final 500km stretch to Melbourne when he became the 76th life lost on the state’s roads.

He was three days from finishing the ride.

Iman Zand was on a charity bike ride from Perth to Melbourne when he was struck and killed by a car on the Dukes Highway near Keith in SA. Picture: Instagram

Mr Zand, an experienced cyclist who had tackled cross-state cycling missions including around Tasmania before, had chronicled his journey on Instagram, dedicating a different stretch of the tri-state ride to four different charities.

The Deakin University personal trainer had set a $5000 target to be split between his four chosen organisations of Save Soil, Camp Quality, Royal Flying Doctor Service Victoria and Lifeline.

The online fundraiser has passed $7600 in the days after his death.

A Naracoorte man, 43, was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, and his licence was confiscated.

The man was bailed to appear in court in January.

Mr Zand’s cousin Hessam Bandi said his family was determined to continue his legacy of supporting worthy causes.

“Iman was a kind-hearted soul who wanted to make a meaningful impact, especially for kids with cancer and mental health causes,” Mr Bandi said.

“His story has touched everyone who knows him.

“His family and friends are determined to continue his work and to bring more awareness to cyclist safety across Australia.”

Iman Zand was on a charity bike ride from Perth to Melbourne. Picture: Instagram

Mr Zand was originally from Iran and lived in India and Turkey before settling in Melbourne.

He described his final ride as an “incredible journey” that would push him to his limits and “allows me to dedicate each pedal stroke to causes that are close to my heart”.

“This ride isn’t just about the kilometres I’ll cover or the personal endurance I’ll test, it’s about making a real difference for the world we live in and the people who need our help,” he wrote.

His mission was to raise awareness for Save Soil to protect the planet’s health, Camp Quality to “bring positivity, fun and laughter back into the lives of kids facing the toughest battle”, and Lifeline to ensure there would be someone at the end of the phone line.

His fourth charity, RFDS Victoria, was chosen to support the essential services that provide emergency medical care in rural and remote areas, “ensuring that everyone has access to critical health support”.

See the online fundraiser, Miles for Miracles, here.