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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On July 1, 1916, Charles Epting Vansant arrived from Philadelphia at the Engleside Hotel, located on the Jersey Shore, according to Matawan Historical Society. When he arrived, he was eager to get in the water, taking a swim in the water near the hotel at about 6 p.m. And that's when he was attacked by a shark.

Carmel, California

The beach is very scenic, it is on a small strip of land between the ocean and pond. The pond has kayak and paddle board rentals. The beach has the Jaws bridge you can jump from. The beach is narrow but very long.

"Jaws Bridge" (American Legion Memorial Bridge, Sengekontacket Pond, Mass.) In a case of life imitating art, this bridge over Sengekontacket Pond (say it three times fast), between Edgartown and Oak Bluffs, is now semi-officially known as the "Jaws Bridge" (check Google Maps if you don't believe us).

Though the film takes place in the fictional town of Amity Island in New York, it was actually filmed throughout Martha's Vineyard, Mass. (Long Island was considered "too busy" — the filmmakers wanted an island that would feel eerily empty to filmgoers.)

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

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. More specifically, Martha Vineyard's Edgartown again played the main town of Amity during the making of Jaws 2, as in the first film.

Saving the most dramatic for last, the final human victim in Jaws is the relentless shark hunter, Quint (Robert Shaw).

It was caused by a recessively inherited genetic mutation that was traced to Kent county, England. Emigrants from that region, some of whom came specifically from an area called The Weald, settled on Martha's Vineyard in the late 17th century.

Later, Massachusetts Bay Colony businessman Thomas Mayhew was given a grant to the island, along with Nantucket and the Elizabeth Islands, from King Charles of England. Mayhew's son, Thomas Jr., founded the first European settlement here in 1642 at Edgartown, finding the resident Wampanoags good neighbors.

UPDATE: The man's body was found Monday, Massachusetts State Police said. He was identified as Tafari Campbell, a beloved longtime chef for former President Barack Obama and his family. A paddleboarder went missing in a pond on Martha's Vineyard Sunday, local and state police said amid a search for the 43-year-old man.

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.

But if the tide changes or someone jumps to either side of the center, it could be dangerously shallow. Once in the water, there's a risk of unknown debris on the ocean floor and constant boat traffic through the channel, Ginther said.

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!

No pedestrian shall pass through, around, over, or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad grade crossing or bridge while such gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed. (17) No pedestrian may jump or dive from a publicly owned bridge.