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Driver intentionally drove Cybertruck into lake to use vehicle’s ‘Wade Mode,’ police say

Driver intentionally tested Tesla Cybertruck's 'Wade Mode' in Grapevine Lake, a feature meant for shallow streams, leading to the vehicle disabling and his arrest.

  • On Monday evening, Jimmy Jack McDaniel intentionally drove a Tesla Cybertruck into Grapevine Lake to test the vehicle's "Wade Mode" feature, resulting in his arrest after the truck became disabled near Katie's Woods Park boat ramp.
  • Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, claimed the Cybertruck would be "waterproof enough" to serve as a boat, yet the company's manual limits Wade Mode to a maximum depth of about 32 inches, fostering owner overconfidence.
  • Police charged McDaniel with operating a vehicle in a closed park section and lacking valid boat registration. Grapevine Police warned: "although a vehicle may be physically capable of entering shallow freshwater areas, doing so can create legal and safety concerns under Texas law."
  • As of Tuesday, McDaniel remains in the Grapevine Jail. This incident follows previous Wade Mode mishaps in Truckee, California, and Ventura harbor, where owners' tests resulted in costly rescues.
  • Tesla's manual explicitly warns that water damage is not covered under warranty and owners must "gauge the depth of any body of water before entering," as Wade Mode is designed for shallow creek crossings, not deep lake immersion.
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WFAA 8abc broke the news in Dallas, United States on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
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