Reality star Johnny Bananas was reportedly riding with John Elway during the golf cart accident that killed his longtime agent, Jeff Sperbeck.
Bananas, whose real name is John Devenanzio, is best known for his long-running tenure on MTV’s The Challenge. TMZ reported on Friday, May 2, that he “tried to keep [Sperbeck] alive” after he fell off the golf cart that Elway, 64, was driving in La Quinta, California on Saturday, April 26.
Sperbeck, who suffered traumatic head injuries, died Wednesday, April 30, at the age of 62.
According to TMZ, Sperbeck and Bananas, 42, were “standing on the back of the cart as Elway drove and his wife sat in the front seat.” The outlet cited a source as describing Sperbeck’s fall as a “freak accident” and saying Elway wasn’t speeding or driving erratically.
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Elway’s son, Jack Elway, is friends with Bananas. The men were in the California desert for Stagecoach Festival festivities the previous weekend. Jack was also in the golf cart as the group returned from a Stagecoach event on the night of the accident.
Us Weekly has reached out to Bananas and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for comment.
On Friday, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco told The Denver Post that “nothing that we have found” indicated law enforcement needed to be involved.
“This appears to be a horrific accident,” Bianco said. “And unfortunately for all of those involved, one of the people — well, a couple of them — happen to be very high-profile celebrities. And that makes this more of an issue than it probably should be.”
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Elway called 911 after the incident, but first responders didn’t contact the sheriff’s department until days later. Bianco explained that the department only got involved after a “massive media inquiry” came their way once it was revealed that the legendary Denver Broncos quarterback was involved.
“It is common practice for medical personnel, whether it be an ambulance personnel or hospital personnel or even fire personnel, to call us after the scene of an accident because something doesn’t look right,” Bianco said. “And this was not the case.”
Bianco said that the medical team at the scene did not find any evidence to indicate Elway was intoxicated, though he did not elaborate on how they arrived at that conclusion. It is not clear if Elway was given a breathalyzer test.
Denver’s 9News reported on Thursday, May 1, that Elway hired Denver-based attorney Harvey Steinberg following Sperbeck’s death.
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Steinberg has “a long history of representing celebrities who have run into legal trouble, including a number of Denver Broncos,” the network said.
Sperbeck was reportedly still breathing when paramedics arrived on scene. He was placed on life support after being transported to Desert Regional Medical Center in nearby Palm Springs.
The sports agent began representing Elway in 1990. The duo formed a close friendship and went on to cofound the wine brand 7Cellars in 2015.
“I am absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the passing of my close friend, business partner and agent Jeff Sperbeck,” Elway said in a statement on Wednesday. “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.”
He continued, “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.”
