What happened

On the night of Super Bowl weekend in February 2025, 22-year-old Daniel Waterman, an expectant father, was riding as a passenger in a vehicle driven by his then-girlfriend, 24-year-old Leigha Mumby, in Flagler County, Florida. According to the arrest affidavit and multiple media sources, the vehicle left the road and crashed into a tree. 

Investigators say the collision stemmed from a heated argument. Mumby reportedly found out she was pregnant and allegedly discovered a message on Waterman’s phone from another woman, which sparked the fight. 

While the couple was driving on Interstate 95 (I-95), Waterman accused Mumby of saying: “You’ll get what you deserve.” Shortly after, the car apparently accelerated and crashed into the tree. 

The aftermath for the victim

Daniel Waterman suffered catastrophic injuries, including a broken neck, broken back, dislocated hips, a broken leg and ankle, and collapsed lungs - his family described “everything broken.”  He remained in a coma for several months. In May 2025 he briefly regained consciousness and communicated via whiteboard with investigators, accusing Mumby of deliberately causing the crash. 

On October 8, 2025, Waterman died from complications of his injuries (including pneumonia). 

Legal developments

Initially, Mumby was charged in July 2025 with reckless driving causing serious bodily injury and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.  After Waterman’s death, prosecutors upgraded the charge to vehicular homicide. 

Mumby - who was pregnant at the time of the crash and later gave birth - has pleaded not guilty to the initial charges; it is not yet publicly reported how she has responded to the upgraded homicide charge. 

Family reaction & custody battle

Waterman’s family say they are now seeking custody of the unborn child, pending paternity results. They have vowed to raise the child in his memory, saying: “We can’t let the baby grow up with a mom that could possibly do this,” according to his grandfather. 

The family’s story also highlights how excited Daniel was to become a father. A GoFundMe page set up for him described: “Daniel was an excited, soon-to-be father of a baby girl. There was not a day that went by that he didn’t express that he just wanted to come home.” 

Key questions & issues

• Investigators point out that data suggest Mumby may not have braked before impact — they say the car was accelerating at the time of the crash. 

• Was the crash truly intentional, or was it a tragic accident triggered by an argument and loss of control? The statements by Waterman while conscious lend weight to intentionality.

• How will the custody dispute unfold for the infant child, given the defendant is the mother and the father deceased?

• What will the verdict be in a case blending domestic conflict, alleged intent, pregnancy and death?

Why this matters

This case is a sobering example of how relationship conflict can escalate into irreversible tragedy. A young father-to-be with hopes of building a family is dead, a mother (and child) now faces the legal system under the most serious of charges, and a family grapples with both grief and the fight for custody. It also underscores how even when one party is incapacitated (coma), their voice can ultimately become critical evidence.

Timeline at a glance