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The incident occurred at approximately 8:00 p.m. local time, when emergency services received reports of a vehicle entering the water near Katie’s Woods Boat Ramp. Police and firefighters arrived at the scene and found the Cybertruck partially submerged near the shoreline as it began to sink.
During the unfolding incident, a passerby was recorded on video making a remark, “Yo sir, you can’t park there,” as the vehicle continued to take on water.
Authorities stated that the driver admitted to deliberately entering the lake in order to activate and test Wade Mode, one of the Cybertruck’s off-road driving settings. Tesla describes the feature as a system that adjusts vehicle suspension to help protect the vehicle during slow movement through shallow water. However, the mode does not activate automatically and must be engaged manually by the driver.
Grapevine Police Department confirmed in a public Facebook statement that, “The vehicle became disabled and took on water. The driver and passengers abandoned the vehicle and the Grapevine Fire Department Water Rescue Team assisted in removing it from the lake.”
The driver, identified as Jimmy Jack McDaniel, was arrested and taken to Grapevine Jail. He has been charged with Operation of Vehicle in Closed Section of Park or Lake, operating without a valid boat registration, and multiple violations of water safety equipment regulations, according to officials. Reports from The Independent stated McDaniel also claimed he had previously driven the Cybertruck in the Atlantic Ocean and other bodies of water.
Tesla’s official owner documentation advises drivers to assess underwater conditions before attempting water traversal and warns against driving in deep or fast-moving water due to risks of severe damage, injury, or death.
The incident highlights growing concerns over misuse of advanced vehicle features and the legal consequences of operating land vehicles in restricted or unsafe aquatic environments.
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