The incident took place at around 8 pm at Grapevine Lake in Texas, where the driver, identified as 70-year-old Jack McDaniel, reportedly tried to test the vehicle’s ‘Wade Mode.’
It is a feature designed for slow driving through shallow water. However, the situation quickly spiralled out of control as the electric pickup moved into deeper water and began to sink.
ALERT: Man arrested after putting his Cybertruck in ‘Wade Mode’ and accidentally sinking it in a lake in Grapevine, Texas.
Officers responded to a call about a Cybertruck sunken off of Katie’s Woods Park Boat Ramp at around 8 PM.
Authorities say the driver put his Tesla in… pic.twitter.com/jQ7YXk36Xk
— E X X ➠A L E R T S (@ExxAlerts) May 19, 2026
Soon after, officials and firefighters were called. When emergency teams arrived, they found the Cybertruck partially submerged near the shoreline. According to Grapevine police, the vehicle quickly became unstable, started taking in water, and then stopped working in the lake.
The driver and passengers then abandoned the truck and exited safely. The Grapevine Fire Department Water Rescue Team later assisted in removing the vehicle from the lake.
McDaniel told NBC 5 he had driven the Cybertruck in water before, including in the Atlantic Ocean, without problems.
Grapevine Police in a Facebook post said that they were called to Katie’s Woods Park Boat Ramp after a Tesla Cybertruck was found in the water near the shore. The driver told officers he intentionally drove into the lake to try out the vehicle’s “Wade Mode.”
But the vehicle stopped working after water got inside it, and it became disabled.
Tesla says the Tesla Cybertruck can drive through water, but only in very limited conditions. The maximum safe wading depth is about 32 inches (815 mm), measured from the bottom of the tyres.
The company explains that ‘Wade Mode’ is meant for shallow water like small rivers or flooded roads. When it is activated, the vehicle raises its suspension to the highest level and moves very slowly, usually between 1-3 mph. It also shows a timer on the screen and can stay active for up to 30 minutes.
Tesla says ‘Wade Mode’ should only be used when all doors and windows are fully closed and the vehicle speed is below 20 mph when turning it on. The mode helps protect the battery by pressurising it and reducing the risk of water damage.
Police said the driver was arrested on charges of Operation of Vehicle in Closed Section of Park/Lake and numerous water safety equipment violations.
“We want to remind drivers that although a vehicle may be physically capable of entering shallow freshwater areas, doing so can create legal and safety concerns under Texas law,” the Grapevine Police wrote.
