Daniel Waterman, originally from the Syracuse area in New York, was critically injured on Super Bowl Sunday 2025 in a devastating crash along Interstate 95 in Flagler County, Florida. He had been riding as a passenger in a vehicle driven by his pregnant girlfriend, 24-year-old Leigha Mumby, when a heated argument reportedly erupted between the couple during the trip. Tensions escalated rapidly, and moments later the car veered off the road and struck a tree, leaving Waterman with life-threatening injuries. Mumby, who was also injured, and the couple’s unborn baby both survived the crash. Waterman was placed into a coma, and for months his condition remained uncertain as doctors worked to stabilize him and investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.

When Waterman briefly regained consciousness, he provided statements to investigators that dramatically shifted the direction of the case. According to court documents cited by People and the New York Post, he alleged that Mumby intentionally caused the crash during the argument, reportedly saying, “I don’t care what happens. You’ll get what you deserve.” In later accounts, he described how the dispute escalated after a pregnancy revelation and a text message he received, which Mumby allegedly reacted to with anger before driving erratically. Waterman also claimed he attempted to escape the vehicle but was unable to do so before impact. While Mumby initially told authorities she could not remember the crash, she was arrested and charged with reckless driving causing serious bodily injury and aggravated battery. Following Waterman’s death on October 8, 2025, due to complications from his injuries, the charges were upgraded to vehicular homicide. His family has since focused on securing custody of the surviving child, stating that Waterman wanted the baby raised in New York with his relatives.