A 70-year-old man is facing multiple charges after he deliberately drove a Tesla Cybertruck into Grapevine Lake Monday night to test its Wade Mode feature, authorities said. The vehicle became disabled and partially submerged near a boat ramp, prompting a response from Grapevine police and fire crews.
A man drove his Tesla Cybertruck straight into a lake to test “wade mode” and ended the night in jail 😭
— Opro News (@opronews) May 19, 2026
Turns out “water-resistant” and “submarine” are not the same thing. pic.twitter.com/9Z1p6a48x5
Officers were dispatched shortly before 8 p.m. Monday, May 18, 2026, to Katie’s Woods Park Boat Ramp at Grapevine Lake after reports of a vehicle in the water. When they arrived, they found the Cybertruck partially submerged near the shoreline. The driver, identified as Jimmy Jack McDaniel, told officers he intentionally entered the lake to use the truck’s Wade Mode, a Tesla feature designed for shallow water crossings up to about 32 inches deep.
McDaniel and his two passengers — visitors from Germany — safely exited the vehicle before it took on water. Grapevine Fire Department’s Water Rescue Team assisted in removing the Cybertruck from the lake using a wrecker. No injuries were reported.
McDaniel was arrested and charged with operating a vehicle in a closed section of a park or lake, operating without a valid boat registration, and multiple water safety equipment violations, including lacking life jackets and a fire extinguisher. He spent the night in jail.
Grapevine police reminded the public that while some vehicles may be capable of entering shallow water, doing so can create legal and safety issues under Texas law. Tesla’s owner’s manual warns drivers to check water depth and conditions and notes that water damage may not be covered by warranty.
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