Liputan6.com, Jakarta - A 70-year-old man named Jimmy Jack McDaniel was arrested after intentionally driving his Tesla Cybertruck into Lake Grapevine, Texas, on Monday night, May 19, 2026.
The incident occurred near the Katie's Woods boat ramp outside Dallas, Texas, prompting a response from authorities.
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McDaniel told officers that he intentionally drove his vehicle into the lake to test the Cybertruck's "Wade Mode" feature.
However, the testing attempt ended in disaster when the electric vehicle quickly malfunctioned and began taking on water, forcing McDaniel and his two passengers to abandon the truck.
As a result of this reckless action, McDaniel faces several charges, including operating a vehicle in a closed park or lake area, not having a valid boat registration, and various water safety violations.
He is currently being held at the Grapevine County Jail pending further legal proceedings.
Reckless Incident on Lake Grapevine
The incident began when Jimmy Jack McDaniel, along with two German visitors he was touring, drove his Tesla Cybertruck into Lake Grapevine.
They became stranded near the Katie's Woods boat ramp around 8 p.m.McDaniel insisted to a reporter that the Cybertruck itself wasn't the problem.
He claimed he had driven the truck on the same lake before, even in the Atlantic Ocean, without any problems.
However, this time he admitted to making a "miscalculation" and going too deep into the lake.
McDaniel suspects water entered the truck's charging port, causing a short circuit and the vehicle's steering system to fail.
According to the police statement, "the driver stated he intentionally drove into the lake to use the Cybertruck's "Wade Mode" feature", after which "the vehicle became disabled and took on water".
Timeline of Arrest and Legal Charges
After the Cybertruck became submerged and abandoned by its driver and passengers, officers from the Grapevine Police Department were immediately called to the scene to recover the vehicle.
The Grapevine Fire Department's Water Rescue Team assisted in removing the partially submerged truck from the lake.
McDaniel was subsequently arrested and charged with several serious offenses.
The charges include operating a vehicle in a closed section of a park or lake, not having a valid boat registration, and various water safety violations.
Grapevine Police also added that McDaniel faces boating-related charges for not having a valid boat registration and not having a life jacket or fire extinguisher in his truck.
He is currently being held at the Grapevine Jail.
Tesla Cybertruck "Wade Mode" Feature About
"Wade Mode" is a feature on the Tesla Cybertruck designed for shallow water crossings, such as those commonly encountered on off-road trails or flooded roads.
This feature allows the Cybertruck to "enter and drive through bodies of water, such as rivers or streams" at a maximum depth of 32 inches (81.5 cm), according to Tesla's online manual.
When activated, "Wade Mode" raises the Cybertruck's air suspension to its maximum height and activates special system protections.
The Grapevine Police Department reminds the public that while a vehicle may be physically capable of entering shallow freshwater areas, doing so can pose legal and safety issues under Texas law.
Grapevine Police Department spokesperson Katharina Gamboa emphasized, "We would never encourage intentionally driving your vehicle into water."