Man momentarily emerges from coma to expose his girlfriend before paying the ultimate price

Daniel Waterman fought through unimaginable pain to tell the truth.

What he revealed from his hospital bed changed everything.

And a dying man momentarily emerged from a coma to expose his girlfriend before paying the ultimate price.

Daniel Waterman spent eight months in hell after a February car crash left him clinging to life.

The 22-year-old suffered a broken neck, shattered back, fractured collarbone in three places, dislocated hips, broken leg and ankle — nearly every bone in his body was damaged when his girlfriend's Honda Passport slammed into a tree along Interstate 95 in Flagler County, Florida.

For three months, Waterman remained in a coma while doctors fought to keep him alive.

Victim spelled out girlfriend's crime one letter at a time

When Waterman finally opened his eyes in May, he couldn't speak.

His vocal cords were damaged, his body destroyed by the impact.

But investigators needed to know what happened that Super Bowl night when the car veered off the highway and crashed.

Waterman's mother watched as her son used the only tool available to him — a letter board.

For 90 minutes, he painstakingly pointed to letters while making sounds to indicate which one he wanted.¹

One letter at a time, Waterman spelled out a story that transformed the case from a traffic accident into an attempted murder investigation.

He and his girlfriend Leigha Mumby, 24, had been arguing after she discovered she was pregnant and found text messages from another woman on his phone.²

Mumby was driving when things turned violent.

According to Waterman's testimony, she began driving recklessly, slowing to 50 mph before suddenly accelerating.³

Prosecutors say evidence backs up victim's hospital bed testimony

He tried to escape the vehicle.

That's when Mumby sped up to 90 mph.⁴

"I don't care what happens, you'll get what you deserve," Mumby allegedly told Waterman before deliberately swerving off the road and driving into a tree.⁵

The statement matched evidence investigators had already collected.

Mumby's cousin received a text message from Waterman's phone minutes before the crash.

"This is what he gets for being a liar and a cheater," the message read.⁶

Waterman's family believes Mumby sent that message herself after grabbing his phone during the argument.

When police interviewed Mumby days after the crash, she claimed she couldn't remember what happened and only recalled waking up in agonizing pain.⁷

But forensic evidence told a different story.

"This was not an accident," John Hager, an attorney for the Waterman family, explained. "Evidence showed she didn't use the brakes — the car was speeding up at the time of impact."⁸

Florida prosecutors charged Mumby in July with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and reckless driving causing serious bodily injury after Waterman's testimony.

The stakes got much higher when Waterman died October 8 after developing pneumonia — a complication doctors linked directly to his injuries from the crash.

Mother says son never gave up fighting for justice

State Attorney Melissa Clark upgraded the charges to vehicular homicide.

Under Florida law, vehicular homicide carries up to 15 years in prison and requires prosecutors to prove the driver operated the vehicle "in a reckless manner likely to cause death or great bodily harm."

Mumby posted $150,000 bond and walked out of Flagler County Jail.

She's pleaded not guilty to all charges and maintains she doesn't remember causing the crash.

But prosecutors now have Waterman's dying testimony spelling out exactly what happened.

Cases involving intentional vehicle crashes as weapons present unique challenges for prosecutors.

Florida law treats vehicles as deadly weapons when used to cause harm, putting this case in the same category as assault with a firearm or knife.

The critical difference between a tragic accident and a criminal homicide comes down to proving intent.

Waterman's testimony about Mumby's final words before the crash — combined with evidence she accelerated rather than braked — gives prosecutors the foundation they need.

Domestic violence cases where the perpetrator uses a vehicle as a weapon are notoriously difficult to prosecute because victims often can't testify.

Waterman made sure that wouldn't happen.

His mother told reporters he never gave up during those eight months in the hospital.

"This whole entire time, he literally never gave up," Heather Waterman said.⁹

Waterman was excited about becoming a father before the crash.

The GoFundMe established for his medical expenses noted he wanted nothing more than to come home to meet his baby girl.¹⁰

Mumby gave birth while awaiting trial.

Now Waterman's family is fighting for custody of the child.

"He wanted her raised in New York with his family," his mother explained.¹¹

Waterman's grandfather put it bluntly: "We can't let the baby grow up with a mom that could possibly do this."¹²

The case returns to court November 19 when Mumby must answer to the vehicular homicide charge.

Waterman spent his final months making sure justice would be served.

He used the only method available to him — spelling out the truth one letter at a time from his hospital bed.

That testimony may be what sends his girlfriend to prison for killing him.

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¹ "Man Woke from Coma to Tell Police Girlfriend Caused Accident That Critically Injured Him Before His Death," TooFab, October 29, 2025.

² "Dad-to-Be Woke Up from Coma After Car Crash," People Magazine, October 29, 2025.

³ Ibid.

⁴ Ibid.

⁵ "Father-to-be wakes from coma, tells police girlfriend crashed car on purpose before he dies," Fox News, October 30, 2025.

⁶ "Man awakes from coma, reveals how angry girlfriend 'intentionally' caused crash," Law & Crime, October 28, 2025.

⁷ "Dad-to-Be Woke Up from Coma After Car Crash," People Magazine, October 29, 2025.

⁸ "Father-to-be wakes from coma, tells police girlfriend crashed car on purpose before he dies," Fox News, October 30, 2025.

⁹ Ibid.

¹⁰ Ibid.

¹¹ "Man Dies After Waking From Coma and Revealing Girlfriend's Chilling Final Words," The Inquisitr, October 29, 2025.

¹² "Dad-to-Be Woke Up from Coma After Car Crash," People Magazine, October 29, 2025.