What we know about the fatal incident on 'Jaws' bridge in Martha's Vineyard (2024)

Local News

Brothers Tavaughn and Tavaris Bulgin jumped off the bridge late Sunday night. One body has been recovered, but a marine search continued Tuesday.

What we know about the fatal incident on 'Jaws' bridge in Martha's Vineyard (1)

By Ross Cristantiello

Police continued their search Tuesday for 21-year-old Tavaughn Bulgin, who has been missing since jumping off the “Jaws” bridge on Martha’s Vineyard late Sunday night. Officials say he jumped into the waters with Tavaris Bulgin, his 26-year-old brother, and two others. The body of Tavaris was recovered Monday morning. Tavaughn is presumed dead.

Here’s what you need to know.

What we know about the initial incident

At about 11:20 p.m. on Sunday, first responders were called to the American Legion Memorial Bridge between Edgartown and Oak Bluffs, a spokesperson for the Coast Guard told Boston.com. The bridge appeared in the movie “Jaws,” and swimmers frequently jump off it into the waters below.

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A group of four friends, including the two Bulgin brothers, lept off the bridge. The two others got out of the water safely, but Tavaris and Tavaughn could not be found.

At around 6:30 a.m. on Monday, police found the body of Tavaris Bulgin.

According to a Facebook post from Omar George, a self-described family friend of the brothers and their parents, the four friends dove off the bridge. One brother “got in trouble,” George wrote, while the other brother “perhaps went to help.”

The bridge, sometimes called “Big Bridge” by locals, lies along Joseph A. Sylvia State Beach. It separates Nantucket Sound from Sengekontacket Pond. Although signs posted along the area warn visitors that jumping off the bridge is illegal, many partake in the activity every summer.

The water under the bridge is about 15 feet deep. Depending on the tides, strong currents can pose a danger to swimmers. Weaker swimmers can be caught off guard, and nearby rocks also create hazards.

State Senator Julian Cyr, in an interview with the Globe, said that the way to prevent future accidents at the bridge was to focus on educating people, especially the seasonal workers of Martha’s Vineyard. Adding extra police patrols to the bridge and cracking down on jumping would not be the right use of limited law enforcement resources, he said.

What we know about the search

Members of the Coast Guard, Massachusetts State Police, and local police kept up the search throughout Sunday night and Monday morning, however tide changes forced them to take a break around noon, Oak Bluffs Fire Chief Nelson Wirtz told The Boston Globe. Some vehicles, like an MSP helicopter and a Coast Guard ship, were able to continue.

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On Monday afternoon, the search was mainly focused on the ocean side of the bridge, according to an MSP post on Twitter.

The MSP Marine Unit and Dive Team suspended the search around 4:30 p.m. Monday, and promised to return Tuesday with members of the Massachusetts Environmental Police.

On Tuesday morning, divers and other police units resumed the search, focusing on the side of the bridge bordering the inlet and pond, a State Police spokesman told the Globe. Police deployed side-scanning sonar technology Tuesday, which allows searchers to map the seafloor.

“We are using sidescan sonar to detect objects or anomalies in water column or on ocean floor. If sonar detects something we will dive on it,” said a post on the MSP Twitter account.

After failing to find Tavaughn Bulgin’s body Tuesday morning, crews worked their way back over to the bridge’s ocean side. But poor weather caused dangerous conditions, the spokesman said, and Tuesday’s search was suspended at 1 p.m. Going forward, weather conditions will be assessed on a day-by-day basis to determine whether it is safe to resume the search.

What we know about the victims

The Bulgin brothers hailed from Clarendon, Jamaica. They were living in Oak Bluffs for the summer while working at Nomans restaurant. The eatery was closed Tuesday, according to an Instagram post, and planned to open back up Wednesday.

Tavaris and Tavaughn were in the U.S. as part of a work-and-travel program for university-aged students, according to the Jamaica Observer.

A spokesman for the Bulgin family told the Globe that Tavaris and Tavaughn are the sons of Rev. Keith Bulgin, a pastor at Palmers Cross New Testament Church of God in Clarendon. The brothers also had two sisters. Some family members sought medical attention after learning the tragic news.

The two brothers grew up in the church, playing music during services and helping their father. Both went to college and studied business. One attended University of the West Indies and another attended The University of Technology, Jamaica, according to the Observer.

In George’s Facebook post, he described being the best man atRev. Bulgin’s wedding. The two boys were like sons to him, he wrote, and they usually stopped at his Connecticut home before going off to Martha’s Vineyard.

Just such a visit occurred a few weeks ago, George wrote. The Bulgin brothers cooked for him and boasted of working in a restaurant that was visited by President Barack Obama.

George drove the brothers to Massachusetts, he wrote, and they called him last week to wish him a happy birthday, promising to celebrate when they returned.

“These two boys are like my blood sons. I loved them so much. I know them from birth. They are good, godly, smart, jovial, crazy, full of life and talented individuals,” the post read.

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What we know about the fatal incident on 'Jaws' bridge in Martha's Vineyard (2024)

FAQs

What we know about the fatal incident on 'Jaws' bridge in Martha's Vineyard? ›

Tavaughn reportedly jumped into the water with his brother Tavaris Bulgin, 26, both of Jamaica, with two others. Rescue efforts by state police commenced after the two did not surface out of the water on Sunday night, and on Monday, the body of Tavaris was found.

Is it safe to jump from Jaws Bridge? ›

When jumping off Jaws Bridge you have to be careful of rip currents and should always jump with other people. You should only jump off Jaws Bridge during the day and should jump towards the middle of the bridge where the water is deeper and swim to the jetty on the side.

What happened at Jaws Bridge? ›

Tavaris and Tavaughn Bulgin, originally from Jamaica, were working for the summer at a restaurant on Martha's Vineyard, according to police. Two brothers are dead after jumping off a Massachusetts bridge made famous by the 1975 blockbuster “Jaws,” according to police.

How deep is the water under Jaws Bridge? ›

Sylvia State Beach. It separates Nantucket Sound from Sengekontacket Pond. Although signs posted along the area warn visitors that jumping off the bridge is illegal, many partake in the activity every summer. The water under the bridge is about 15 feet deep.

Who died on Jaws Bridge Martha's Vineyard? ›

The fatal incident, resulting in the loss of life of brothers Tavaughn, 21, and Tavaris Bulgin, 26, after jumping off the famous bridge, sparked a lengthy conversation at the commission's August 17 meeting regarding how to possibly avoid similar tragic events in the future.

Why do people jump from Jaws bridge? ›

I did it a number of times in my youth,” she told The Gleaner. Alleyne said that it was thrill-seeking to jump off the bridge. “Kids have been jumping off the bridge even before it became known as the Jaws bridge because of the movie,” she said.

How high is the Jaws bridge jump? ›

Jumping off the bridge is not allowed, but kids growing up on the island and tourists have done so for decades. The jump to the water may be from a height of around 20 feet, depending on the tide, into a strong current that pulls swimmers toward the sea.

What was the saddest death in Jaws? ›

Alex's Death Is The Most Heartbreaking.

How deep is Jaws Bridge? ›

The water under the bridge is about 15 feet deep, CBS Boston reported.

Why the Jaws ride really closed? ›

Following the hurricanes that struck Central Florida in 2004, Universal was forced to temporarily close the ride in January 2005 due to the rising cost of petroleum, which was used to fuel the numerous pyrotechnical effects throughout the attraction as well as the tour boats.

Why is it called Jaws bridge? ›

The American Legion Memorial Bridge ( the "Jaws Bridge") named for its appearance in the movie Jaws, filmed on Martha's Vineyard. the bridge is located on Beach Rd connecting Edgartown and Oak Bluffs. Lots of kids and adults make their summer splash by jumping off of Jaws Bridge.

What beach is Jaws bridge? ›

Aquinnah and Gay Head are must-visit destinations on Martha's Vineyard. Get ready for an adrenaline rush at the "Big Bridge," known for its role in the thrilling Jaws bridge scene. Located on Joseph Sylvia State Beach and the American Legion Memorial Bridge, this spot is a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

Where was Jaws filmed? ›

"Jaws" the Steven Spielberg classic released in 1975, filmed in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts from May through October 1974, and went on to become one of the most enduring summer films.

How much of Jaws was filmed in Martha's Vineyard? ›

The first move was filmed mostly on Martha's Vineyard. Many of the places can still be visited. They include: The town center: This is where Chief Brody (played by Roy Scheider) gets materials for beach-closed signs, is the junction of Water and Main streets in Edgartown, a town on Martha's Vineyard.

Why wasn't Jaws 2 filmed in Martha's Vineyard? ›

Jaws 2 Returned To Martha's Vineyard For The Amity Scenes

The franchise later returned to Martha's Vineyard once more to play Amity Island in Jaws: The Revenge, though that movie had to sparingly feature the location due to unfavorable weather.

Which son died in Jaws 4? ›

Sean Brody - Eaten by Vengeance (Shark) after he bit his arm off. Mrs. Ferguson - Eaten alive by Vengeance (Shark). Vengeance (Shark) - After Jake McCay placed a bomb inside him, was impaled by Ellen Brody with Jake McCay's boat and blown up.

Can people survive jumping the Golden Gate bridge? ›

Most of the jumpers die due to impact trauma. About 5% of the jumpers survive the initial impact but generally drown or die of hypothermia in the cold water. Most suicidal jumps from the bridge have occurred on the side facing the bay (the side facing the Pacific is open only to bicyclists).

Can you safely dive off a bridge? ›

Diving off of a bridge or cliff, or even just watching someone dive, can be an exhilarating experience. Unfortunately, bridge and cliff jumping are both dangerous activities, especially when jumping from a height of 20 yards or higher. In some cases, these activities have even proven fatal.

Why is bridge jumping illegal? ›

You risk serious injury from hitting the bottom or striking a hidden obstacle. There's also the potential for colliding with passing vessels, which can lead to life-threatening accidents. Jumping from any bridge in Newport Beach is illegal under NBMC 11.12.

Can you jump off the bridge at Blue Pools? ›

For those thrill seekers, my favourite part of the day was leaping from the bridge and letting the splash steal my breath away. (Do this at your own risk, and always check the depth of your landing before taking the leap of faith). With plenty of spectators cheering me on to take the plunge, I couldn't back down!

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