Texas Man Arrested for Driving Cybertruck into Grapevine Lake
Don't drive your Cybertruck into a lake
Image: Business Insider
A 70-year-old man, Jimmy McDaniel, was arrested in Grapevine, Texas, after driving his Tesla Cybertruck into Grapevine Lake to test its 'Wade Mode' feature. The mode is only suitable for water up to 32 inches deep, while the lake reaches depths of 65 feet. Fortunately, all passengers escaped safely.
- 01The Cybertruck's Wade Mode is designed for shallow water, not deep lakes.
- 02Grapevine Lake has a maximum depth of 65 feet, significantly exceeding Wade Mode's limits.
- 03Jimmy McDaniel was charged with multiple water safety violations and operation of a vehicle in a closed area.
- 04The Cybertruck was retrieved from the lake by the local fire department after it flooded.
- 05Tesla CEO Elon Musk has previously made comments about the vehicle's water capabilities.
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In Grapevine, Texas, a 70-year-old man named Jimmy McDaniel was arrested after he drove his Tesla Cybertruck into Grapevine Lake, claiming he wanted to test the vehicle's 'Wade Mode' feature. This mode, according to Tesla's owner's manual, is intended for shallow bodies of water with a maximum depth of 32 inches, whereas Grapevine Lake reaches depths of up to 65 feet. The incident occurred at Katie's Woods Park Boat Ramp, where the water near the shore is shallow but quickly deepens. Fortunately, McDaniel and his passengers escaped without injury, but the Cybertruck became submerged and inoperable. Local authorities were called to assist in retrieving the vehicle. McDaniel faced misdemeanor charges for operating a vehicle in a closed area and several water safety violations. This is not the first incident involving a Cybertruck in the lake; in 2025, a similar event was captured on video, prompting a response from Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who suggested that with modifications, the Cybertruck could navigate open water. However, Tesla has clarified that the Wade Mode is not suitable for deep water.
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This incident raises concerns about water safety and vehicle operation in closed areas, highlighting the importance of understanding vehicle features.
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