COEUR d'ALENE - A lawsuit has been filed in 1st District Court against Kootenai County, its sheriff's department and a deputy for a multi-vehicle, rear-ending injury accident last summer.

The plaintiff Chad Sahm, a resident of Kootenai County, said in the lawsuit he was northbound on U.S. 95 on July 4, 2012, when he was "violently struck from behind" by a Kootenai County Sheriff's Department cruiser.

Sahm, operating his 2007 Toyota Tundra, had just passed the intersection of U.S. 95 and Ironwood Drive when traffic started to slow.

Sahm slowed to accommodate the flow of traffic when his vehicle was struck by Deputy Dennis D. Stinebaugh's cruiser, according to the lawsuit documents filed Tuesday.

Sahm's vehicle was struck with enough force that it caused a chain-reaction of collisions in front of him. Three additional vehicles were involved in the accident.

The lawsuit said Stinebaugh failed to control his vehicle "in a manner conducive to the safety of others" or make proper observations of existing conditions, and was "negligent and inattentive."

Sahm suffered "serious personal injuries," and some are permanent in nature.

Sahm and his wife, Anastasia Sahm, are seeking money for his injuries, the damages, and his attorney's fees.

Lt. Stu Miller, of the sheriff's department, said, "We cannot discuss a personnel issue or an active lawsuit."