A man expecting a child, who fell into a coma after enduring a horrific car accident, briefly regained consciousness to accuse his pregnant partner of being responsible for his condition. Daniel Waterman sustained severe injuries when the vehicle he and his girlfriend, Leigha Mumby, were traveling in crashed into a tree, resulting in shattered bones, spinal trauma, and punctured lungs on February 9. Subsequently, Daniel slipped into a coma.
In a surprising turn of events in May, the 22-year-old managed to communicate a distressing message to investigators using a whiteboard. Despite his limited ability to speak, Daniel conveyed his thoughts by indicating letters through sounds, which officers transcribed on the board.
To the shock of many, Daniel disclosed that a heated argument erupted between him and Mumby, 24, upon discovering her pregnancy. The altercation intensified when Mumby became upset over a text message he received from a female friend who shared his interest in sports, as confirmed by his mother.
According to Daniel’s account, the dispute escalated while they were driving on Interstate 95 in Flagler County, Florida, with Mumby allegedly at the wheel. As per Daniel, the situation worsened as Mumby began driving recklessly.
Despite Daniel’s attempts to exit the vehicle at a reduced speed of about 50 mph, he was unsuccessful. He alleged that Mumby then accelerated to speeds between 80 and 90 mph, declaring, “I don’t care what happens; you’ll get what you deserve,” before deliberately crashing into a tree.
While Mumby also sustained injuries but recovered and gave birth, she claims not to recall the events leading to the crash, mentioning waking in intense pain, as per investigators. Supporting Daniel’s narrative, the car’s event data recorder validated his version of events.
Initially showing signs of progress, Daniel was moved from Florida to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse in July for further recovery. Subsequently, Mumby faced charges of reckless driving, causing serious bodily harm, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
Tragically, on October 8, Daniel succumbed to pneumonia. As a result, Mumby was charged with vehicular homicide and detained in Flagler County Jail. Daniel’s family is now seeking custody of the child pending a paternity test, aiming to ensure the child knows about her father and grows up with positive influences.