Jesse was the eldest of four sons the couple had raised in Greytown and was an old boy of Greytown Primary School and Wairarapa College.
Mrs Bucknell said her son was diagnosed as dyslexic as a child and his early athletic talent had been encouraged "to help channel his energy". He began swimming and running and after "falling in love with it" started cycling and triathlon competition aged 13.
He became a leading regional triathlete, cyclist and multi-sport athlete and was selected for the Triathlon New Zealand Youth Academy and the U19 New Zealand triathlete squad in 2006, finishing 17th in his grade at the ITU World Championships in Switzerland that year.
Jesse had successfully held jobs at several firms during his working life in Masterton and was always "synched in" with his social, work and sporting communities, she said.
"He was very well known and very well-liked. I doubt anyone would have a bad thing to say about him. He was just an all-around good guy." Jesse had lived in Hawke's Bay for two years, and three weeks ago moved with his partner and son to a home the couple built at Parklands Estate, Poraiti, near Napier.
Mrs Bucknell said Jesse was a high achiever who had earned the deep affection of his partner's parents and was starting to reap the rewards of his hard work and planning.
"He gave up triathlon because he said he wanted a normal life, no hard training every day, a normal job, a girlfriend, a house, and that's what he set out to do.
"He was so proud of his new son and home, and he was always positive and happy. We'd ring him up and ask how he was and he said he was living the dream. It was his new favourite saying."
Jesse had last month applied for work at two Hawke's Bay firms and was offered a job at each of them on Monday. He had "only just handed in his notice" the day he was killed.
"He was out doing a delivery and was going under the speed limit when for some reason he veered off the road and into a large norfolk pine tree. It was apparently a nice day and there was no rhyme or reason for it.
"Jesse was really fit and goes to the gym for two hours at 5.30 every morning, but of course they can't rule out a heart attack or a turn or something like that.
"We don't know and may never know," Mrs Bucknell said.
"We weren't aware at first there was a nurse with him at the crash scene and it's awesome to know she was there. We really want to meet her, to see her and thank her."
Police had recovered her son's phone from the crash wreckage, she said, and an autopsy was to be held today.
Hawke's Bay Road Policing Senior Sergeant Greg Brown said the serious crash unit was investigating, with a focus on possible causes including fatigue, distraction, or a medical event.
A funeral service will be held at the Wairarapa College hall at 4pm on Tuesday and a graveside service will be held at Jesse's burial at 1.30pm at the Western Hills Cemetery, Napier, on Wednesday. A fundraising campaign has been launched on the Givealittle site to help and support Ms McAuley and her son.
