Daniel Waterman, 22, briefly woke from a coma before his death — and what he told authorities changed everything.
Daniel Waterman was severely injured in a car crash on Super Bowl Sunday in 2025. Originally from the Syracuse area in New York, he had been riding in the passenger seat while his pregnant girlfriend, Leigha Mumby, 24, drove along Interstate 95 in Flagler County, Florida.
The couple reportedly began arguing during the drive, and tensions escalated just moments before the crash. The vehicle went off the road, leaving Waterman with critical injuries. When he briefly woke from his coma, he told investigators something that would change the entire case.
Waterman, who died on October 8, 2025, from complications related to his injuries, reportedly told authorities that Mumby deliberately caused the crash.
According to court documents cited by People and the New York Post, he claimed Mumby’s anger boiled over moments before the accident. He allegedly recalled her saying: “I don’t care what happens. You’ll get what you deserve.”
Both Mumby and the couple’s baby survived, although she was also injured in the crash.
Waterman tried to escape
In May 2025, Waterman recounted what led up to the crash. He claimed Mumby drove the vehicle into a tree after an argument erupted when she told him she was pregnant and he received a text from a woman in New York.
According to Waterman, Mumby began driving erratically after seeing the message. He allegedly tried to escape the vehicle, but couldn’t get out before it crashed.
Heather Waterman, Daniel’s mother, later told syracuse.com that the text message at the center of the argument was simply a friendly exchange between football fans.
While still recovering from his coma, Waterman eventually communicated with investigators in May using a whiteboard, his mother said. His written statements reportedly led to Mumby’s initial arrest.
Mumby allegedly told authorities she could not remember what caused the collision.
Court records show she was first charged in July with reckless driving causing serious bodily injury and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Following Waterman’s death, authorities upgraded the charges to vehicular homicide, according to People.
Waterman’s family is now focused on gaining custody of the baby they believe is his.
“We’ll do whatever we can do to bring her to us,” Heather Waterman told syracuse.com. “He wanted her raised in New York with his family.”
