Man Drives Cybertruck Into Texas Lake to Test 'Wade Mode'

Texas police are reminding residents that "we don't encourage your cars going into the water" after they say one Tesla Cybertruck owner did that very thing. Grapevine officers say Jimmy Jack McDaniel deliberately drove his Cybertruck down a boat ramp and into Grapevine Lake around 8pm Monday, telling police he wanted to try out the truck's "Wade Mode" water-fording feature. The vehicle reportedly flooded and stopped working, forcing McDaniel and a passenger to get out and leave it behind, reports CBS News. The city's fire department water rescue team later helped haul the truck out of the lake.

Police say McDaniel was arrested on charges including operating a vehicle in a closed section of the lake and lacking required boat registration. A police spokesperson stressed that motor vehicles are barred from driving along the lake because of the risks to people on the shoreline, including children. Tesla's manual says Wade Mode is meant for crossing shallow water such as rivers or creeks and caps the recommended depth at roughly 32 inches, or less than three feet. The Austin American-Statesman notes the lake measures 65 feet at its deepest point. Tesla's manual also warns that water damage caused by driving in water isn't covered under warranty.