Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said he thought “nothing” was apparently “nothing” that led to the death of John Elway’s best friend and business partner Jeff Sperbeck during the Jolf Cart incident.
The sheriff said his department’s investigation is almost complete and could be completed as early as this weekend.
“I’ve learned nothing to show that this is anything but a tragic accident,” Bianco said in a phone interview Friday night.
Sperbeck fell from a moving golf cart in the Madison Club community in La Quinta around 6:50pm on April 26th and hit his head. The 62-year-old San Clemente resident was declared dead at 1:10am on April 30 at Desert Regional Medical Center, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Sperbeck was standing at the back of the cart when it fell, Bianco said. According to the sheriff, the cart was designed for two or four, but five people were lit up at the time of the incident: Sparbeck, Elway, their wife, and Bianco, of Identity, whom he didn’t know.
The sheriff refused to confirm reports that Elway was driving a cart. He added that the driver appears not to be negligent and that alcohol is not a factor.
“For some reason, he doesn’t seem to be anything other than his fall,” Bianco said.
Elway said in a statement on April 30 that he was “absolutely devastated and heartbroken” by Sperbeck’s death.
“There are no words that truly express the deep sadness I feel in the sudden loss of someone that means so much to me,” Elway said. “Jeff will be deeply overlooked because of the loyalty, wisdom, friendship and love that he has brought to my life and the lives of many others.”
In his 30 years as an agent and business advisor, Sperbeck has represented more than 100 NFL players since 1990, including Elway. The two men later founded the 7cellars winery, with Sperbeck serving as chief executive officer.
Elway, a soccer star for Granada Hills High and Stanford, played 16 seasons for the Denver Broncos. He was a league MVP in 1987, leading the Broncos to consecutive Super Bowl Championships (1997, 1998) and three other Super Bowl appearances.
Later, as a football operation for the team’s general manager and executive vice president, Elway helped the Broncos make two more Super Bowl appearances, including a post-2015 season victory.
He was a consultant for the Broncos when his contract expired in 2023.
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