Jeff Sperbeck, former agent for John Elway, dies after golf cart injury. Here's what we know

LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) — The decease of Jeff Sperbeck, a concern spouse and erstwhile cause for NFL Hall of Famer John Elway, aft falling disconnected a play cart connected Saturday appeared to beryllium a “horrific accident" that didn't impact transgression activity, said Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, whose bureau is investigating the incident.

Sperbeck, 62, died connected Wednesday, aft his wounded astatine a Southern California golfing community. Witness Ali Simon told KESQ-TV of Palm Springs that Elway was astatine the country of the crash.

“This appears to beryllium a horrific accident,” Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco told the Denver Post. “And unluckily for each of those involved, 1 of the radical – well, a mates of them – hap to beryllium precise high-profile celebrities. And that makes this much of an contented than it astir apt should be.”

Elway, who played his full vocation connected the Denver Broncos, issued a connection saying helium was devastated by the nonaccomplishment of his adjacent friend.

Here is what we cognize astir the incident.

What happened past weekend?

Riverside County occurrence authorities were called to The Madison Club, an upscale state nine and residential assemblage successful a godforsaken assemblage adjacent Palm Springs, connected Saturday evening for a study of a idiosyncratic suffering superior injuries aft falling disconnected a play cart.

Sperbeck was past taken to the hospital, and helium died aboriginal Wednesday from his injuries.

Elway was astatine the country of the crash, witnesser Ali Simon told KESQ-TV. Simon said she did not spot the mishap occur, but saw a antheral lying connected the crushed surrounded by radical and Elway connected the phone.

TMZ has reported that Elway was driving the play cart, citing unidentified sources. KUSA-TV successful Denver besides cited an unnamed root saying Elway was driving.

Law enforcement officials person not said who was driving the play cart, and Elway did not corroborate oregon contradict it successful a connection astir Sperbeck's death.

Medical unit astatine the country didn’t find grounds suggesting Elway was drunk, Bianco told the Denver Post. He did not elaborate astir however unit reached that conclusion.

What is the sheriff’s office’s involvement?

Bianco said archetypal responders didn't instantly telephone the sheriff's bureau to the scene, and typically would notify instrumentality enforcement if determination were a concern. He said his bureau got progressive pursuing media involvement successful the lawsuit and is reviewing surveillance footage and witnesser testimony. The probe volition beryllium short, helium said.

Ed Obayashi, Modoc County lawman sheriff and peculiar prosecutor, said instrumentality enforcement mightiness not initially beryllium called to analyse an wounded involving a azygous person, for example, who falls down the stairs oregon from a bicycle.

But if a decease occurs, Obayashi said instrumentality enforcement officials are typically asked to analyse truthful the coroner tin implicit a thorough report.

“It could beryllium a substance of routine, oregon determination whitethorn beryllium immoderate accusation they received that requires them to analyse it,” said Obayashi, who trains instrumentality enforcement officials connected ineligible issues.

Who was Sperbeck?

Sperbeck, who is from the Orange County seaside assemblage of San Clemente, began managing Elway successful 1990, erstwhile Elway was backmost for the Denver Broncos. He represented much than 100 NFL players during a three-decade vocation arsenic an cause and concern adviser.

He was champion known arsenic Elway’s longtime friend, concern spouse and cause who helped negociate the Hall of Famer’s extended off-field concern empire, which included restaurants, car dealerships and a winery.

Sperbeck managed Elway’s selling and concern ventures, and the 2 collaborated with winemaker Rob Mondavi Jr. successful 2015 to co-found 7Cellars by John Elway. Sperbeck was besides progressive successful galore charitable endeavors and co-founded a sports selling firm.

Elway issued a connection pursuing Sperbeck’s death.

“I americium perfectly devastated and heartbroken by the passing of my adjacent friend, concern spouse and cause Jeff Sperbeck,” helium said. “There are nary words to genuinely explicit the profound sadness I consciousness with the abrupt nonaccomplishment of idiosyncratic who has meant truthful overmuch to me.”