Road rage on I-75 in Lee County leaves woman blinded by pepper spray

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

A road rage incident on I-75 in Lee County left a woman blinded after an aggressive driver was accused of forcing her off the road and pepper-spraying her before speeding away, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The incident occurred around 7 a.m. Thursday near the Corkscrew Road entrance ramp during rush hour traffic. The victim claimed the driver of a red Ford F-150 became aggressive, and she accused him of forcing her car toward the right shoulder before spraying her with pepper spray. As she pulled over, the suspect continued driving away.

Florida Highway Patrol arrested Geoff Dieringer after spotting his truck later in the Naples area. Troopers noted they could still smell the lingering effects of pepper spray around the truck. Initially, Dieringer denied any involvement, but after his arrest, he reportedly admitted to spraying the other driver, according to troopers.

"It's too much. Pepper spray is crossing a limit that should never be crossed," said a driver near the Corkscrew Road entrance to I-75.

Another driver commented on the chaotic nature of road rage incidents, saying, "People do crazy things. They cut each other off, they brake check, they go slow."

Chuck Sobek, a driver from Estero, emphasized the importance of patience to avoid road rage. "People, you know, are in a hurry, going nowhere. You know, if you're in a hurry, leave early. Why sit there and create a problem?" he said.

Troopers advise that if you find yourself in a road rage situation, create distance, do not engage, and call law enforcement.

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