Lee County Commissioner’s DUI victim reacts to arrest footage

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CAPE CORAL, Fla. A month after Lee County Commissioner John Manning’s DUI crash, Justine Maher is still dealing with the physical and emotional pain.

Cape Coral Police Department says Manning drove through a red light and totaled Maher’s car.

For the first time, Maher watched the body cam footage of Manning the moments after their September crash. But for Maher, the most upsetting part was when Manning claimed she hit him.

“I don’t even know how to react,” Maher said. “Part of me is angry, part of me is frustrated, part of me is speechless.”

Maher has been in and out of doctors appointments since the car crash.

She says she still gets nervous behind a wheel.

“I’m an anxious mess when I’m in a car, whether a passenger or a driver,” Maher said.

Lee County officials and Manning have refused to comment on the crash since it has happened. Manning is still a member of the Board of County Commissioners.

“If we are going to allow our county commissioner to do this, we might as well say it is OK for everyone to do it,” Maher said.

The only thing that is keeping Maher from moving on is an apology.

“I want to find it in my heart at some point to forgive and forget,” Maher said. “But right now, I’m not there.”

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