Shoreline searched for missing man who jumped from 'Jaws Bridge' on Martha's Vineyard

Ella Adams, Cape Cod Times
·2 min read

UPDATE: State troopers conducted land searches Wednesday along the shoreline in the vicinity of the "Jaws Bridge," but did not locate Tavaughn Bulgin, according to a statement from the state police. Bulgin, 21, has been missing since late Sunday after jumping from the bridge. The state police underwater recovery team plans to continue to assess ocean conditions daily to determine when dive operations will resume, according to the statement.

EDGARTOWN — State police continued to search Wednesday for Tavaughn Bulgin, 21, who has been missing since jumping off the "Jaws Bridge" Sunday night, according to a state police statement.

While weather conditions prevented dive operations on Wednesday, state police continued to search by land and possibly by air for Bulgin.

Four men jumped from the bridge Sunday night. Two were rescued, and the body of Tavaris Bulgin, 26, was found Monday morning.

Tavaughn Bulgin remained missing as of Wednesday morning.

The brothers were hired as seasonal workers at a local restaurant, according to the state police.

Previous reporting: 1 dead, 1 missing after jumping from 'Jaws' bridge in Martha's Vineyard

Jumping off the "Jaws Bridge" in Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard is a common summertime practice, in a file photo from 2014.
Jumping off the "Jaws Bridge" in Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard is a common summertime practice, in a file photo from 2014.

State troopers spent Tuesday searching for Tavaughn Bulgin with the Massachusetts Environmental Police using side scan sonar.

Edgartown police called the state police Sunday night asking for help in a search for two men

Around midnight on Sunday, Edgartown police requested help from state police to search for two young men who jumped into the water from the bridge. The young men did not surface after jumping, according to state police.

Earlier this week: Search underway in Edgartown for man who jumped off 'Jaws Bridge'

"Four people last night jumped off the bridge. Two of them were rescued by a local fire department after a 911 caller expressed concern about the four individuals who went into the water," Adam Sansoucie of the U.S. Coast Guard Station Woods Hole said Monday morning.

"Two were not rescued last night. One was seen about 200 feet offshore going under the water and not resurfacing. The searches from that point have been nonstop," Sansoucie said.

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In Woods Hole, the Coast Guard received the initial notification around 11:20 p.m. on Sunday night, he said.

State police called in boats and aircraft. Local police and firefighters searched for the men until about 3:30 a.m. on Monday, according to updates from state police. State police divers were brought to the island to resume the search Monday morning.

The "Jaws Bridge" is officially titled the American Legion Memorial Bridge, located on Beach Road. It connects Edgartown and Oak Bluffs. It is illegal to jump off of the bridge, Sansoucie said.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: 'Jaws Bridge' tragedy: Police continue search for bridge jumper