Daniel Waterman, originally from the Syracuse area of New York, was critically injured on Super Bowl Sunday 2025 in a crash on Interstate 95 in Flagler County, Florida. He was a passenger in a car driven by his pregnant girlfriend, Leigha Mumby, when an argument between them escalated. The vehicle left the road and struck a tree, leaving Waterman with life-threatening injuries while Mumby and their unborn child survived. He was placed in a coma and remained in critical condition for months.

When Waterman briefly regained consciousness, he told investigators that Mumby had intentionally caused the crash during the heated argument. Court documents indicated the dispute may have been sparked by a pregnancy-related revelation and a text message. Waterman said he tried to get out of the vehicle but could not escape before the impact.

Mumby initially claimed she could not remember the incident. She was later arrested and charged with reckless driving causing serious bodily injury and aggravated battery. After Waterman died on October 8, 2025, from complications related to his injuries, the charges were upgraded to vehicular homicide.

In the aftermath, Waterman’s family has sought custody of the surviving child, stating that he wanted the baby raised in New York with his relatives so the child would remain connected to his side of the family. The case continues to attract attention because of the serious allegations and the tragic outcome that began with a dispute while driving.