Palm Harbor man ticketed in Lake Tarpon fatality

By Times staff writers

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 17, 2000

PALM HARBOR -- The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday issued two citations to the 24-year-old Palm Harbor man who was operating a WaveRunner at 2 a.m. Saturday on Lake Tarpon when his friend fell off and died.

Marianne Pasha, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff's Office, said Thomas O'Neil, 24, of Palm Harbor was cited on charges of operating the watercraft after dark and not having proper flotation devices on board.

O'Neil told sheriff's deputies he turned the watercraft and his passenger, John E. Kasting, 23, of Palm Harbor fell off. O'Neil said he circled quickly, but couldn't find Kasting. It wasn't until Sunday afternoon that search crews found Kasting's body.

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