A Cybertruck driver in Texas has been arrested after he drove his vehicle into a lake using Tesla’s “Wade Mode” feature, police said.
The distinctive-looking electric truck, which sells for upwards of $80,000, was found in Grapevine Lake on Monday, according to authorities.
The driver, who several news outlets identified as Jimmy Jack McDaniel, said he “intentionally drove into the lake to use the Cybertruck’s ‘Wade Mode’ feature,” the Grapevine Police Department wrote in a Facebook post.
“Wade Mode” allows Cybertrucks to drive through shallow bodies of water.
After the Cybertruck “became disabled and took on water,” the driver and others inside abandoned the car, Grapevine police said.
There was no mention of injuries by authorities.
The local fire department helped get the Cybertruck out of the lake, and the driver was arrested. Video from NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth showed a tow truck pulling the car out of the water.
The driver faces charges of Operation of Vehicle in Closed Section of Park/Lake and “numerous water safety equipment violations,” according to authorities.
He told NBC 5 that he has driven the Cybertruck in water multiple times before, including in the Atlantic Ocean, and there were no problems.
“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,” Grapevine police said.
The Independent has reached out to Tesla and Grapevine police for comment.
Tesla warns that it is the driver’s responsibility to assess the depth of the body of water before entering.
“Take care to drive slowly and safely. If the water is too deep, return to more shallow water or dry land,” Elon Musk’s electric car company warns on its website.
Aside from the dangers to drivers and passengers associated with driving through water, Tesla warns that damage caused to Cybertrucks in water is not covered by its warranty.
