The Riverside County Sheriff, Chad Bianco, said “nothing nefareoso” during the incident of the golf cart that led to the death of the close friend and commercial partner of John Elway, Jeff Sperbeck, last weekend.
The Sheriff said that the investigation of his department is almost complete and could end as soon as this weekend.
“We have not learned anything to indicate that this is more than a tragic accident,” Bianco said in a telephone interview on Friday night.
Sperbeck fell from a moving golf cart in the community of Madison Club de la Quinta on April 26 around 6:50 pm and hit his head. The San Clemente resident, 62, was declared dead at 1:10 am on April 30 at the Desert Regional Medical Center, according to the Sheriff’s office.
Sperbeck was standing on the back of the car when he fell, said Bianco. The car was designed for two or four people, according to the sheriff, but there were five people: Press, Elway, their wives and a person whose Bianco identity did not know, at the time of the incident.
The sheriff refused to confirm the reports that Elway was driving the car. He added that the driver does not seem to be guilt and that there is no indications that alcohol was a factor.
“There is no appeal to be a cause that, for any reason, fell,” said Bianco.
Elway said in a statement on April 30 that he is “absolutely devastated and disconsolate” for the death of Sperbeck.
“There are no words to truly express the deep sadness that I feel with the salty loss of some who have meant a lot to me,” Elway stopped. “Jeff will be deeply surprised by loyalty, wisdom, friendship and love that brought my life and the life of so many others.”
In 30 years, as an agent and commercial advisor, Sperbeck represented more than 100 NFL players, including Elway from 1990. The two men later founded 7Cars Winery together and Sperbeck served as executive director.
A football star in Granada Hills High and Stanford, Elway played 16 seasons for the Denver Broncos. It was the MVP of the League in 1987 and led the Broncos to consecutive championships of the Super Bowl (1997, 1998) and three other appearances in the Super Bowl.
Later, as general manager of the team and executive vice president of soccer operations, Elway helped the Broncos make two more appearances at the Super Bowl, including a victory after the 2015 season.
He was consultant of the Broncos when his contract expired in 2023.
