A man injured when his car was struck by an ambulance filed a lawsuit against North Whidbey Fire and Rescue, Whidbey General Hospital and a firefighter.

Attorneys for Whidbey Island resident David Heim filed the complaint for damages in Island County Superior Court Sept. 24. It states that Heim suffered significant bodily injuries in the April 13, 2009, crash on North Whidbey.

According to the complaint, fire department employee James Zimmerman was driving an ambulance owned by Whidbey General Hospital east on Miller Road. He was driving at a very high rate of speed, the complaint alleges, and went through the stop sign at the intersection of Balda Road without stopping and struck a car driven by Heim.

The complaint states that the intersection has limited visibility and Heim could not see the approaching ambulance.

As a result of the accident, the complaint claims, Heim suffered injuries including “a severe impingement of his left shoulder, soft tissue damage to his chest and elbow, and an acute back strain.”

“Those injuries resulted in Plaintiff incurring medical expenses and pain and suffering, including considerable limitations on his ability to exercise, to continue work in his usual trade, and to conduct himself in the active lifestyle to which he was accustomed,” the complaint states.

Heim asks for unspecified damages asks for both special and general damages to cover medical costs and compensate for pain and suffering, emotional distress, disability and disruption of his lifestyle.

Heim’s attorney is Thomas Sandstrom of Oak Harbor.