Google Maps/CWN
EDGARTOWN – Emergency officials responded to a report of several people in the water off Edgartown shortly after 11 PM Sunday. The incident unfolded off Seaview Avenue at the “Big Bridge”, officially known as the American Legion Memorial Bridge but better known as the “Jaws Bridge” after a memorable scene from the 1975 blockbuster was filmed there. Initial reports say four people were in the water. Two men were still unaccounted for. Emergency responders from both Edgartown and Oak Bluffs as well as Coast Guard vessels and a helicopter from Air Station Cape Cod were all working to the scene.
The Coast Guard confirmed that they are searching for 2 missing swimmers in Edgartown in the vicinity of Jaws Bridge. Searching are USCG Station Woods Hole, Air Station Cape Cod, CG Cutter Hammerhead, Edgartown Fire, Oaks Bluff Fire, Tisbury Fire, Dukes County Sheriff and Mass State Police.
Mass State Police reported officials left the scene about 3:30 AM without any results. State Police divers were ferrying to the island and the search was to resume at daybreak.
10 AM update: Mass State Police report that search units have recovered the body of one of the victims. The search for the second victim is ongoing.
3 PM update: The Coast Guard has suspended the search, pending further developments, for the missing swimmer in the vicinity of Jaws Bridge.
State Police divers and Marine Unit crews have suspended search for second male for tonight. They will return tomorrow with Mass Environmental Police to continue to search using side scan sonar.
Police add that the victims are brothers, ages 21 and 26, who worked for the summer at a Vineyard restaurant. They were living in Oak Bluffs.
On Wednesday evening, Massachusetts State Police Sergeant David Mackin, the commander of the State Police-Oak Bluffs Barracks, along with Oak Bluffs Police Chief John Searle and Edgartown Police Chief Bruce McNamee, attended a vigil in memory of the two young men who perished after jumping from Big Bridge Monday night. The victims, brothers Tavaris and Tavaughn Bulgin, were from Jamaica and working for the summer at a restaurant on Martha’s Vineyard. Tavaris’ body was recovered from the ocean on Monday. The search for Tavaughn, who is presumed to have also died, is ongoing. MSP offers their deep condolences to the Bulgin family and their friends.
