Couple Sues After Crash With Patrol Car

A Post Falls couple is suing the city and a police officer because a patrol car collided with their truck.

Del and Doris Gonderman filed the lawsuit in Kootenai County District Court, claiming the city failed to train its officer adequately and that the officer operated his patrol car recklessly.

Post Falls Police Chief Cliff Hayes says the wreck happened because the couple pulled out in front of officer Patrick Knight.

On March 28, Knight was driving east on Seltice Way, on his way to a burglary call about 10 p.m., Hayes said.

The Gondermans were in a pickup truck in the parking lot at Hillstead’s Furniture Store. Del Gonderman says he looked before pulling out of the parking lot onto Seltice Way.

Knight’s car slammed into the driver’s side of the Gondermans’ pickup, according to an Idaho State Police report.

The Gondermans say Knight was speeding and didn’t have his emergency lights and sirens going.

“We believe that his lights were on based on the review by Idaho State Police and the witness statements,” Chief Hayes said.

No one was cited.

In their tort claim, the Gondermans ask for more than $2 million in damages. , DataTimes