Car strikes former chairman of computer chipmaker Altera Corp

Car struck the former chairman of computer chipmaker Altera Corp. while he rode his bicycle.

Photo: Car strikes former chairman of computer chipmaker Altera Corp

Car strikes former chairman of computer chipmaker Altera Corp

Rodney Smith, 67, of Portola Valley, California, was riding eastbound along Sand Hill Road on Friday morning when he was struck by an automobile, the California Highway Patrol said.

Smith was declared dead about 20 minutes after the collision. The cause of the crash had not been determined, and it was not clear who was at fault, investigators said. Smith and the vehicle had both been traveling eastbound.

Smith had spent 20 years as Altera's chairman before retiring in January 2003. The San Jose, California-based company makes programmable chips used by various industries.

Smith and his wife, Mary, were also active philanthropists. One of their donations included a $1 million gift to the Portola Valley Open Space Acquisition Fund in 2000, said Nancy Thompson, who is on the Open Space Acquisition Committee.