The bicyclist who died Saturday after crashing into a rock near Fremont was an engineer at Cisco Systems, the giant networking equipment company based in San Jose.

The California Highway Patrol said 66-year-old John Perkins, a Newark resident, died from injuries he suffered in an accident in the roadway
near the intersection of Palomares and Niles Canyon Road in a rural area of Alameda County near Fremont at about 12:45 p.m. Saturday.

Cisco chief executive and chairman John Chambers said in a statement, "We were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of John Pickens, and the thoughts and prayers of all at Cisco are with the Pickens family."

Chambers said, "John was a beloved member of the Cisco family for more than six years and a distinguished engineer whose intelligence and hard
work was admired by all who knew him, including his Cisco colleagues and customers."

Company spokesman Nigel Glennie said Perkins joined Cisco when it acquired Arroyo Networks six years ago.

Glennie said Perkins was a "distinguished engineer," which is Cisco's most senior position for engineers.

The people in those roles exhibit superior leadership, responsibility, and accomplishment in technical and strategic areas critical to Cisco's success, according to Glennie.

Perkins is survived by his wife Melinda and three children, Glennie said.

The company has "reached out to the family offering Cisco's support during this difficult time," Glennie said.

— Bay City News Service

Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.