"My Girlfriend Tried to Kill Me": Man in His 20s Dies After Testifying Upon Waking From Coma

According to Financial News, a 22-year-old man who fell into a coma after a car accident and later regained consciousness to testify, "My girlfriend tried to kill me," has passed away. He woke up after three months and informed investigators about the circumstances of the accident, but ultimately died from severe trauma and complications from pneumonia.
According to foreign media outlets such as People magazine and CNY Central, Daniel Waterman (22) was involved in a car crash on February 9 on Interstate 95 (I-95) in Flagler County, Florida, while riding with his pregnant girlfriend, Leah Mumby. Waterman suffered multiple fractures, spinal injuries, and a punctured lung, leaving him unconscious.
After fighting for his life for about three months, Waterman regained consciousness in May. Unable to speak, he used a whiteboard to communicate with investigators. He indicated letters by making sounds as investigators pointed to them, allowing him to explain what happened.
According to his statements, the couple argued about the pregnancy just before the accident, and Mumby, who was driving, began to speed. When the car slowed to about 50 mph (approximately 80 km/h), Waterman tried to escape but failed. Mumby then accelerated to 80–90 mph (about 128–145 km/h) and reportedly said, "I don't care what happens. You will get what you deserve," before intentionally veering off the road and crashing head-on into a tree.
Mumby was also seriously injured but recovered and gave birth. She maintains that she does not remember the details of the accident, stating, "All I remember is waking up in excruciating pain." Authorities said Waterman's account was consistent with the results of the Event Data Recorder (EDR) analysis.
As his condition improved, Waterman was transferred from Florida to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, New York, for further treatment in July. That same month, Mumby was indicted on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and reckless driving causing serious injury.
However, Waterman died of pneumonia on October 8. As a result, Mumby now faces an additional charge of vehicular homicide and is currently being held at Flagler County Jail. The family stated that Waterman never gave up on life, and they are pursuing legal procedures to secure custody of the baby after confirming paternity.
According to online court records, Mumby pleaded not guilty to the original charges, and her response to the added vehicular homicide charge has not yet been confirmed.


[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter