A Glendale man with permanent brain injuries has sued the city of Denver, claiming a street sweeper overtook him either intentionally or recklessly as he pedaled his bicycle to avoid being struck by the machine.

Archibald Allen Lee Hegner was tossed in the air by the street-cleaning machine and knocked unconscious, according to the lawsuit filed Monday in Denver U.S. District Court.

Hegner’s lawsuit names the city of Denver and streetsweeper Rodney Ray Fresquez as defendants. Hegner is seeking payment to compensate him for personal injuries and emotional distress, medical costs totaling $116,072 and attorney’s fees.

Denver denied Hegner’s claims on Sept. 1, on the basis of sovereign immunity, says the lawsuit filed by Edgewater attorneys Brett Huff and Richard Leslie.

A spokeswoman for the city attorney’s office said Denver has not yet been served with the lawsuit. “Once we receive the complaint, we will evaluate the claims and respond to them.”

The collision involving Hegner happened on Feb. 29, 2016, on a section of South Jackson Street, between Yale and Iliff avenues, that does not have centerline marks, the lawsuit says.

At 1:50 p.m., Hegner was pedaling north on South Jackson as he approached a stationary street-sweeping machine. He heard the engine idling, the lawsuit says. Hegner was going about 7 mph. Suddenly the engine noise increased substantially and Fresquez began driving, the lawsuit says.

“Fresquez engaged its engine and accelerated, apparently intending to overtake and pass (Hegner on his) right side,” the lawsuit says. The machine quickly caught up with Hegner.

Hegner moved to the left and sped up to about 10 mph to avoid a collision while the street sweeper passed. The lawsuit says, Fresquez sped up and passed Hegner while throwing dirt, leaves and small branches at the bicyclist. To avoid the debris, Hegner sped up again and passed the machine on the left, the lawsuit says. Frequez sped up a third time and passed Hegner again and moved ahead.

“Fresquez … suddenly, inexplicably and without warning, executed a 180-degree (turn) to reverse direction and head south on South Jackson and directly at (Hegner),” the lawsuit says.

Hegner swerved toward the sidewalk in an unsuccessful effort to avoid a collision, the lawsuit says. The street sweeper struck Hegner, throwing him into the air and partially on the gutter and partially on the sidewalk, it says.

Fresquez’s actions were deliberate and Hegner tried but couldn’t avoid the crash, the lawsuit says. Hegner suffered traumatic brain injury, two broken ribs, a fracture of the sacrum and a large hematoma extending from his armpit to his waist.