Showing extraordinary determination, Daniel Waterman awoke from a coma long enough to make a shocking claim about the person he held responsible for his grave injuries, before sadly passing away at the age of just 22
A father-to-be who was left in a coma after suffering through a horrific car crash awoke long enough to point the finger at the person he claimed was responsible for his condition – his pregnant girlfriend.
Daniel Waterman was left with grave injuries after the car he and his partner, Leigha Mumby, had been travelling in collided with a tree. Left with shattered bones, spinal damage, and punctured lungs following the incident on February 9, Daniel slipped into a coma.
But then, in May, the 22-year-old regained consciousness long enough to deliver a harrowing message to detectives, which he communicated using a whiteboard. Although he was barely able to speak, Daniel was still able to make himself heard by making sounds to indicate the letters he wished to use, which officers pointed at on the board.
In a shock revelation, Daniel revealed that a fiery row had erupted between himself and Mumby, 24, after they found out she was pregnant. Mumby had also became enraged over a text message he’d received from a female friend, who his mother has since confirmed, simply shared his passion for sports.
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In an interview with Syracuse.com, Daniel’s mum, Heather Waterman, shared how her son, who was originally from New York, had been texting with his friend from back home about the Super Bowl. He was a Kansas City Chiefs fan, while she supported the Philadelphia Eagles.
The argument between Daniel and Mumby ignited while the pair were driving along Interstate 95 in Florida’s Flagler County, with Mumby allegedly behind the wheel. As told to officers by Daniel, things began to escalate when the pregnant woman began to drive recklessly.
Daniel had made attempts to open the door and roll out to safety when the car slowed down to approximately 50 mph, but was unsuccessful. It was then that Daniel claimed Mumby sped up, reaching speeds of between 80 and 90 mph. He recounted Mumby telling him, “I don’t care what happens. You’ll get what you deserve“, before deliberately driving the car off the road and directly into a tree.
Mumby was also badly injured but pulled through and has since given birth. She has claimed not to know what led to the crash, and remembers waking up “in agonising pain,” as per People. investigators said in the affidavit. Meanwhile, in court papers, investigators confirmed that Daniel’s account of events was supported by the car’s event data recorder.
Initially, it seemed as though Daniel was making good progress with his health, so much so that, in July, from Florida to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, where it was hoped that he would continue his recovery. That same month, Mumby was charged with reckless driving, causing serious bodily injury, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon in July.
Then, on October 8, matters took a terrible turn, with Daniel tragically passing away after suffering from pneumonia. It was then that Mumby was charged with vehicular homicide and booked into the Flagler County Jail.
Devastated mum Heather said: “He never gave up. This whole entire time, he literally never gave up.” CNY Central reports that Daniel’s family is also now fighting for custody of the baby, pending the results of a paternity test. His grandfather, Michael Gilman, said: We can’t let the baby grow up with a mom that could possibly do this.
“It’s our mission in life that if that child is his, that we take that child and teach her what her dad was all about. She has to know him through our actions, through our memories. We will not let him be gone.”
Mumby has pleaded not guilty to the initial charges of reckless driving, causing serious bodily injury, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, online court records show. These records do not indicate a plea for the homicide charge, as per People.
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