Texas Police Arrest Cybertruck Driver After 'Wade Mode' Lake Test
What to know
- A driver was arrested by Grapevine police after intentionally driving a Tesla Cybertruck into a lake to test its “Wade Mode” feature.
- The vehicle became disabled and started taking on water, forcing occupants to abandon it before crews removed it from the lake.
- Police charged the driver with multiple violations and warned that operating vehicles in waterways can pose legal and safety risks despite manufacturer capabilities.
A driver was arrested Monday night after police said he intentionally drove a Tesla Cybertruck into Grapevine Lake to test the vehicle's "Wade Mode" feature before the truck became disabled and started taking on water.
According to a news release from the Grapevine Police Department, officers were dispatched shortly before 8 p.m. to Katie's Woods Park Boat Ramp, where the Cybertruck was partially submerged near the shoreline.
Police said the driver told officers he drove the vehicle into the lake to use the Cybertruck's Wade Mode, a feature Tesla says is intended for shallow water crossings such as creeks and rivers.
The truck later became disabled in the water, prompting the driver and passengers to abandon the vehicle, police said. Members of the Grapevine Fire Department Water Rescue Team assisted in removing the Cybertruck from the lake.
Authorities arrested the driver on charges including operating a vehicle in a closed section of a park or lake, no valid boat registration and multiple water safety equipment violations.
Related: Tesla's first Cybertruck rolls out of Austin gigafactory, as Ford cuts Lightning pricing
According to Tesla's Cybertruck owner's manual, Wade Mode raises the vehicle's ride height and is designed to help protect the truck while traveling slowly through water up to about 32 inches deep.
The manual also warns drivers to inspect underwater conditions before entering water and cautions against driving in deep or fast-moving water, saying it could result in vehicle damage, serious injury or death.
"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 in the statement.
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