NFL Hall of Famer and former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway will not face criminal charges following an April 26 accident that resulted in the death of his longtime agent and business partner, Jeff Sperbeck, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco announced Monday.
Sperbeck, 62, suffered fatal blunt-force trauma to the head after falling from a golf cart driven by Elway at The Madison Club in La Quinta, California. The coroner ruled the manner of death an accident.
After an extensive review of the evidence — including video footage — investigators found no signs of criminal wrongdoing, impairment, or mechanical failure. Reflecting on the investigation, Sheriff Chad Bianco said: “We’ve talked to everyone involved and found nothing new … there was nothing criminal, it was what we’ve been saying all along — that this was a tragic accident.”
“I’ve looked at video 100 times and there’s no explanation as to why he fell off, he just fell off,’’ he added.
The Riverside County sheriff informed Los Angeles’ KABC that his department got involved only because of the “massive media inquiry,” noting that medics and fire crews at the scene saw no reason to alert law enforcement.
Denver’s 9NEWS adds further detail:
Bianco initially was going to wrap up the investigation in late-May but decided to wait until it contacted 18 additional residents with video in the private golf course neighborhood before concluding that matter. That part of the investigation was concluded with nothing new revealed.
Sperbeck had been an NFL agent to more than 100 players, coaches and executives. He was the type of agent and marketing rep who stayed in touched with his clients long after the NFL careers ended.
When one of Sperbeck’s clients, former Broncos and Peyton Manning quarterbacks coach Greg Knapp, was killed four years ago while riding his bicycle by a driver distracted by his cellphone, Sperbeck helped Knapp’s wife Charlotte not only with service arrangements, but in helping to found the Coach Knapp Memorial Fund that promotes distracted driver awareness and reform. The cause includes an annual stadium stair climb by NFL coaches as running the stadium stairs was part of Knapp’s pregame routines.
In a statement mourning Sperbeck’s death, Elway said he was “devastated and heartbroken.” He made the 911 call immediately after the fall, and witnesses said he remained coherent and responsive throughout the ordeal.
Elway and Sperbeck had worked together since 1990, when Sperbeck became Elway’s agent. They later co-founded the 7Cellars winery and partnered on ventures including restaurants and car dealerships.
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Sometimes bad things happen to good people. This is one of those times. Too bad.