Man Arrested for Driving Cybertruck into Lake Using Wade Mode

A man was arrested in Texas after intentionally driving his Tesla Cybertruck into a lake to use the vehicle's 'wade mode' feature, according to multiple reports. The incident occurred at Grapevine Lake on Monday evening when the driver, identified as Jimmy Jack McDaniel by CBS News, drove the Cybertruck into the water near Katie's Woods Park boat ramp.

The Grapevine Police Department reported that the vehicle became disabled and took on water, prompting the driver and passengers to abandon it. The partially submerged Cybertruck was later recovered with the assistance of the Grapevine Fire Department's Water Rescue Team. McDaniel was arrested on charges of operating a vehicle in a closed section of the lake and for other water safety equipment violations.

According to Tesla's online manual, wade mode allows the Cybertruck 'to enter and drive through bodies of water, such as rivers or creeks' at a maximum depth of approximately 32 inches (815 mm), measured from the bottom of the tire. The manual advises drivers to gauge the depth of any body of water before entering and warns that damage resulting from driving in water is not covered by the warranty.

Police emphasized that while vehicles may be physically capable of entering shallow freshwater areas, doing so can create legal and safety concerns under Texas law. Katharina Gamboa of the Grapevine Police Department urged drivers to avoid intentionally driving their vehicles into the water, citing both safety and legal issues. The incident highlights the potential risks associated with using vehicle features in unconventional ways.

Photos shared by authorities showed the stainless steel pickup partially submerged at the boat ramp as emergency crews worked to recover it from the water. No injuries were reported during the incident. Grapevine Lake is a popular recreation area known for boating and fishing, located in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.