Police have released their rulings on the involvement of NFL legend John Elway in the tragic golf cart accident that cost the life of his longtime agent and close friend Jeff Sperbeck.
Sperbeck, 62, died in April at a Southern California golfing community after reportedly falling off of the back of a golf cart that the former Denver Broncos quarterback was driving.
However, it was revealed this week that the former Super Bowl winner will not face any charges in connection to the heartbreaking death of his friend, finally granting him and Sperbeck’s family some closure.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office has closed its investigation into the incident and is expected to announce in the coming days that its probe found no criminal activity and that Sperbeck’s death was an accident, according to 9NEWS.
‘It’s over,’ Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco told the outlet Friday. ‘We’ve talked to everyone involved and we found nothing new. There was nothing criminal, it was what we’ve been saying all along that this was a tragic accident.’
Sperbeck succumbed to the traumatic head injuries he sustained from falling off the back of a golf cart in La Quinta, California.
John Elway will not face charges over the death of his longtime agent and friend Jeff Sperbeck
Sperbeck tragically died after succumbing to injuries he sustained by falling off a golf cart
The Riverside coroner’s bureau found Sperbeck’s cause of death to be ‘blunt force trauma,’ the manner of the death was ‘an accident’ and the cause of the accident was the ‘passenger fell from the golf cart.’
‘I’ve looked at video 100 times and there’s no explanation as to why he fell off, he just fell off,’ Bianco said.
The sheriff’s office had initially moved to wrap up the investigation in mid-May, but Bianco decided to wait until they had contacted 18 additional residents with video in the neighborhood before reaching an official conclusion.
Sperbeck and Elway were traveling on the vehicle with their wives and it was later revealed that the former signal caller had been the one driving the cart.
Elway and the group had plans to attend the outdoor Stagecoach country music festival in nearby Indio on April 26, but that idea was scrapped due to unseasonably cold weather.
Instead, the three couples were included in a caravan of three-to-four golf carts carrying between 10 and 15 people on a quarter-mile trip from a private function at the Madison Club to Elway’s home on the resort.
Elway was driving the golf cart at the rear of the caravan with his wife seated alongside.
Prior to departing, Sperbeck suggested to his wife that she should sit up front with Elway and his wife, while offering to stand on the back of the cart alongside another passenger, Johnny Devenanzio.
Sperbeck is seen with his son, Jackson (left) and daughter Sam in a family photo
His wife Cori (right) has also expressed the family’s deep sadness at the ‘unimaginable loss’
Sperbeck left behind three children – Carly, Sam and Jackson – and his wife Cori.
Throughout his three-decade career as an agent, Sperbeck represented more than 100 NFL players. But for Elway, he became more than a representative.
The pair worked together during Elway’s Hall of Fame career as Sperbeck managed his business affairs.
They went on to form wine company 7Cellars together in 2013 – 15 years after Elway hung up his cleats and retired from the NFL.
Following the tragic incident, Elway released a statement saying he was ‘absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the passing of my close friend, business partner and agent Jeff Sperbeck.
‘There are no words to truly express the profound sadness I feel with the sudden loss of someone who has meant so much to me.’
‘My heart and deepest sympathies go out to Jeff’s wife, Cori; his children Carly, Sam and Jackson; and everyone who knew and loved him.
‘Jeff will be deeply missed for the loyalty, wisdom, friendship and love he brought into my life and the lives of so many others.’
Elway was a two-time Super Bowl winner during his Hall of Fame playing career
Elway pictured with his wife Paige, who was also present at the time of the accident
Elway, who played his whole career on the Denver Broncos, had hired lawyer Harvey Steinberg back in May, according to Fox.
Steinberg has previously represented others in the sports world, such as former Broncos Matt Prater and Elvis Dumervil.
As a player, Elway won the Super Bowl twice with the Denver Broncos during his decorated playing career.
Considered a hero in the Mile High City, Elway spent his entire 16-year career with the team, achieving back-to-back Super Bowl victories in his final two campaigns.
Sperbeck, meanwhile, is renowned throughout the NFL thanks to his 30-year career, crafting multiple successful career beyond the legendary signal caller.
He has represented over 100 NFL players across the course of his distinguished career and continues to do so through the Rep 1 Sports agency, which in 2017 merged with his agency, Novo.
