Did late deployment doom parachutist?

FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. (AP) — An experienced parachutist who jumped from a bridge to his death at a popular festival may have deployed his parachute late, a county sheriff said Sunday.

Investigators will continue to examine the accident, but witness accounts indicate Brian Lee Schubert's death Saturday was caused by the partial or late deployment of his chute, Fayette County Sheriff Bill Laird said.

Schubert, 66, died of injuries suffered when he hit the water 876 feet below the New River Gorge Bridge during the annual Bridge Day festival, said Laird.

Thousands of people attending the festival watched the fatal jump. Witnesses said Schubert's chute didn't open until about 25 feet above the water. Jumping continued after his body was taken away.