Tavaughn Bulgin, age 21, has been missing since plunging off the “Jaws” bridge on Martha’s Vineyard late on Sunday night. On Tuesday, police continued their search for him. According to officials, he dove into the lake alongside Tavaris Bulgin, his 26-year-old brother, and two other people. It was discovered Monday morning that Tavaris had died. Presumably deceased is Tavaughn.
What we know about the incident
An official from the Coast Guard informed Boston.com that first responders were dispatched to the American Legion Memorial Bridge between Edgartown and Oak Bluffs at around 11:20 p.m. on Sunday. Swimming enthusiasts frequently dive off the bridge into the seas below, which was featured in the “Jaws” film.
Four pals, including the two Bulgin brothers, jumped off the bridge together. Tavaris and Tavaughn were not located, but the other two managed to safely exit the sea.
Police discovered Tavaris Bulgin’s body on Monday morning at 6:30 a.m.
The four buddies allegedly leapt from the bridge, according to a Facebook post by Omar George, who describes himself as a family friend of the brothers and their parents. George noted that one brother “got in difficulty,” while the other “possibly went to aid.”
Locals occasionally refer to the bridge as “Big Bridge” as it is situated alongside Joseph A. Sylvia State Beach. It divides Sengekontacket Pond from Nantucket Sound. Even though there are signs warning people that leaping off the bridge is forbidden, many people nonetheless do so every summer.
15 feet or so of water is submerged beneath the bridge. Strong currents might put swimmers in risk depending on the tides. Inexperienced swimmers may be caught off surprise, and adjacent rocks can also pose risks.
In an interview with the Boston Globe, state senator Julian Cyr suggested that the best approach to stop accidents at the bridge was to concentrate on teaching people, particularly the seasonal employees from Martha’s Vineyard. He claimed that the best use of the scarce law enforcement resources would not be to increase police patrols on the bridge and crack down on leaping.
Did Tavaughn and Tavaris Bulgin Die?
According to Oak Bluffs Fire Chief Nelson Wirtz, members of the Coast Guard, Massachusetts State Police, and local police continued their search throughout Sunday night and Monday morning, but tidal shifts forced them to stop at midday. A Coast Guard ship and an MSP helicopter were among the vehicles that might keep on.
According to an MSP tweet on Monday afternoon, the search was mostly concentrated on the bridge’s ocean side.
Around 4:30 p.m., the search was put on hold by the MSP Marine Unit and Dive Team. vowed to return Tuesday with Massachusetts Environmental Police officers on Monday.
A State Police spokeswoman told the Globe that on Tuesday morning, divers and other law enforcement personnel picked up their search again, concentrating on the side of the bridge that borders the pond and inlet. To help searchers map the seafloor, police used side-scanning sonar technology on Tuesday.
“We are employing sidescan sonar to find objects or anomalies on the ocean floor or water column. A tweet from the MSP account stated, “If sonar detects something, we’ll dive on it.
Tuesday morning, after searching unsuccessfully for Tavaughn Bulgin’s body, workers made their way back to the ocean side of the bridge. However, due to hazardous weather conditions, the official claimed, Tuesday’s search was discontinued at 1 p.m. In the future, the weather will be evaluated on a daily basis.
What we know about the victims
The Bulgin brothers were from the Jamaican town of Clarendon. They were working at Nomans restaurant and spending the summer in Oak Bluffs. According to an Instagram post, the restaurant was closed on Tuesday and expected to reopen on Wednesday.
According to the Jamaica Observer, Tavaris and Tavaughn visited the United States as part of a work-and-travel programme for college-age students.
Tavaris and Tavaughn are the sons of Rev. Keith Bulgin, pastor of Palmers Cross New Testament Church of God in Clarendon, according to a spokeswoman for the Bulgin family who talked to the Globe. The brothers have two sisters as well. After hearing the devastating news, some family members sought medical assistance.
The two brothers were raised at the church, where they assisted their father and played music during services. Both attended college and pursued business degrees. The University of Technology, Jamaica was attended by one and University of the West Indies by another, according to the Observer.
George wrote on Facebook about attending Rev. Bulgin’s wedding and serving as best man. He claimed that the two lads treated him like a son and that they frequently called at his Connecticut home before departing for Martha’s Vineyard.
A few weeks ago, George writes, exactly such a visit took place. The Bulgin brothers prepared meals for him and boasted about working in an eatery that President Barack Obama had frequented.
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