A 70-year-old Cybertruck driver, identified as Jimmy McDaniel, used the vehicle’s “Wade Mode” in Lake Grapevine in North Texas on Monday evening—then watched it shut down when the water got deeper than expected. McDaniel was arrested afterward on multiple char
For a moment, the plan seemed straightforward: use the Cybertruck’s “Wade Mode,” drive into Lake Grapevine in North Texas, and see how far it goes. Monday evening’s videos showed the vehicle moving through the shallow section of the lake—until it stopped when the water turned deeper.
The driver, later identified by police as Jimmy McDaniel, 70, ended up stranded as the Cybertruck shut down in deeper water. Grapevine Police said the incident quickly turned from a stunt into a legal problem.
McDaniel told reporters at THV11 that this was his third trip into Lake Grapevine with his Cybertruck. He said his first two times went “swimmingly,” but this time he went too deep. In his view, the extra depth allowed water into the charging port and short-circuited the vehicle.
After the Cybertruck shut down, McDaniel got out through the window. With him were two passengers—German visitors he was reportedly giving a ride.
When McDaniel reached shore, police arrested him on multiple charges. The allegations included driving a vehicle in a closed section of the park. along with boating law violations such as not having valid boat registration and not having lifejackets on board. The Cybertruck was later retrieved from the lake and towed by the local fire department.
Grapevine Police Department spokesperson Katharina Gamboa delivered a blunt message after the arrest: “Don’t drive into the water with your vehicle,” she said. “Didn’t think I’d have to say that one.”
McDaniel, though, says the vehicle can handle water. He blamed the outcome on his own “miscalculation.” He also said the Cybertruck is back in his possession and that he’s hopeful he’ll be able to drive it again.
The incident has reignited attention on Elon Musk’s past remarks about the Cybertruck’s water capability—remarks some social media users believe may have encouraged McDaniel’s approach. In Musk’s comments, he appeared to suggest the vehicle could do far more than its manual indicates.
In April 2025, Musk commented on a video showing a Cybertruck moving through shallow water in Lake Grapevine. He wrote. “With a little work. it should be able to cross some open water.” And back in 2022. before the Cybertruck’s release. Musk hyped Wade Mode features as effectively turning the truck into a watercraft. He wrote. “Cybertruck will be waterproof enough to serve briefly as a boat. so it can cross rivers. lakes. and even seas that aren’t too choppy.”.
Yet the Cybertruck owner’s manual makes clear that Wade Mode is intended for shallow water—up to 32 inches deep. The Monday drive appeared to cross that line, after the vehicle moved through shallow water before shutting down in deeper sections.
The lake episode is only the latest controversy surrounding Tesla’s flagship vehicle. Earlier this month, nearly 200 Cybertrucks were recalled due to a risk of their wheels popping off while in motion. Last fall. the family of a deceased teenager sued Tesla over the vehicle’s electronic door-opening mechanism. alleging it prevented her from escaping after a fiery crash.
Tesla has not responded to Fast Company’s request for comment.
The sequence Monday night left a simple, hard-edged lesson behind: the car’s design may handle a narrow range of conditions, but once water depth and rules are ignored, the consequences arrive fast—and not everyone gets to walk away without charges.
Tesla Cybertruck Wade Mode Elon Musk Lake Grapevine Jimmy McDaniel Grapevine Police Department vehicle recall boating law violations North Texas
Wade Mode is literally for water?? so why arrest him like it was a crime crime lol
I saw the headline and instantly thought “stunt gone wrong.” Like he should’ve known water gets deeper, come on. Also lifejackets??? who does that without even having them.
If the port shorted out, that sounds like Tesla fault not his fault. But then again he “miscalculated” so maybe both? Also German visitors?? sounds like some tourist Uber thing. I’m confused how they say multiple charges when it was basically just driving into the lake.
70 years old and driving a Cybertruck in a lake… wade mode or not that seems wild. They should’ve towed it sooner before it shut down. And closed section of the park?? like was there a sign or was he just like “eh” and went anyway. Rip to the charging port though, water is nasty.