Man arrested after Cybertruck ends up stuck in Grapevine Lake during an attempted Wade Mode test
Tesla's Cybertruck manual warns drivers it is their responsibility to gauge water depth before entering any body of water
A Texas man was arrested on Monday, after police say he deliberately drove his Tesla Cybertruck into Grapevine Lake in an attempt to test the vehicle's Wade Mode feature — with the experiment ending in disaster.
What happened
Patrol officers were dispatched to Katie's Woods Park Boat Ramp on 18 May, where they found the Cybertruck stuck in the water near the shoreline, the Grapevine Police Department said.
The vehicle became disabled and began taking on water, forcing the driver and passengers to abandon it — escaping through a window.
The driver told police he had "intentionally" driven into the lake to use the Cybertruck's Wade Mode feature.
Tesla's Cybertruck Owner's Manual states that Wade Mode "allows Cybertruck to enter and drive through bodies of water, such as rivers or creeks," but warns that it is the driver's "responsibility to gauge the depth of any body of water before entering."
The manual also advises drivers to "always inspect underwater conditions (such as debris, etc.) before entering" and notes that water damage is not covered by the vehicle's warranty.
The arrest
The driver was identified as Jimmy Jack McDaniel, according to NBC5, KDFW, and CBS News Texas. He was charged with operating a vehicle in a closed section of a park or lake and numerous water safety equipment violations.
McDaniel also had no valid boat registration, per the outlets. He told police he had driven his Cybertruck in water "several times before without incident," according to NBC5.
Footage of the incident shared on Instagram shows the Cybertruck struggling to move through the water after its occupants evacuated, before being hoisted out of the lake by a crane with the assistance of the Grapevine Fire Department Water Rescue Team.
McDaniel was released from the Grapevine Jail as of Tuesday evening.
Police reminder
The Grapevine Police Department issued a public statement in the wake of the incident, noting: "Although a vehicle may be physically capable of entering shallow freshwater areas, doing so can create legal and safety concerns under Texas law."
