A soon-to-be father who endured a severe car accident and slipped into a coma woke up and accused his pregnant girlfriend of being responsible for his condition. Daniel Waterman sustained serious injuries in the crash, which occurred on February 9 when the car he was in with his partner, Leigha Mumby, collided with a tree, resulting in shattered bones, spinal damage, and punctured lungs.
After regaining consciousness in May, Daniel communicated with detectives using a whiteboard, indicating that a heated argument had erupted between him and Mumby over her pregnancy and a text message from a female friend. Despite his limited ability to speak, Daniel managed to convey his message by making sounds to represent the letters he wanted to use.
According to Daniel’s account, the dispute escalated while they were driving on Interstate 95 in Flagler County, Florida, with Mumby allegedly driving recklessly. Daniel attempted to exit the moving vehicle for safety, but Mumby accelerated instead, reaching speeds between 80 and 90 mph, eventually crashing the car into a tree while saying, “You’ll get what you deserve.”
Mumby, who also sustained injuries in the crash and has since given birth, claimed not to remember the events leading to the accident. However, investigators confirmed the accuracy of Daniel’s version of events through the car’s event data recorder. Subsequently, Mumby was charged with reckless driving, causing serious bodily injury, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
Tragically, Daniel passed away on October 8 due to pneumonia, leading to Mumby being charged with vehicular homicide and incarcerated. Daniel’s family is now seeking custody of the baby pending a paternity test, with the intent to ensure the child knows about her father’s legacy and character. Mumby has pleaded not guilty to the initial charges but has not entered a plea for the homicide charge.