Tesla driver arrested after steering car into lake to test 'wade mode' - then getting stuck

A Tesla driver has been arrested after intentionally driving his car into lake to test the Cybertruck's "wade mode" - then getting stuck.

The driver, Jimmy Jack McDaniel, was arrested after Grapevine Police were called to a lake in north Texas to recover the vehicle, which had been abandoned by its driver and passengers.

The Grapevine Police Department sent officers to Grapevine Lake to recover the vehicle.

The driver was arrested and charged with operating a vehicle in a closed section of the lake, not having a valid boat registration, and other water safety equipment violations.

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​"Wade Mode" allows the Cybertruck lifts the electronic truck's ride height to drive through bodies of water of up to 32 inches deep, at speeds of one to three miles per hour, according to Tesla.

According to the police statement, the driver drove into the lake with the off-road mode until the "vehicle became disabled".

Grapevine Police added that "although a vehicle may be physically capable of entering shallow freshwater areas, doing so can create legal and safety concerns under Texas law".

Katharina Gamboa of the Grapevine Police Department told US outlet CBS News: "We wouldn't encourage willingly driving your vehicle into the water.

"You know, not only that, it's a safety concern, but it's also a legal concern as well."

She added that the lake has ramps which should be used to safely load boats or permitted marine vessels.

"So, we do prohibit motor vehicles from driving along the lake. It's a safety issue," she said.

Ms Gamboa said Grapevine frequently has lake-goers and children who play on the shoreline, making operations of vehicles near the area dangerous.

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Tesla warned drivers that when operating their trucks in "soft or muddy underwater" surfaces, the Cybertruck may sink and effectively increase the water level.

It also advises drivers to not turn off "Wade Mode" before the vehicle is completely out of the water.

The Tesla Cybertruck is an electric pickup, made of bullet-proof steel materials, and sells upwards of £70,000 (£52,072).

Its 2019 announcement went viral after its "unbreakable" windows shattered in a demonstration.

The vehicle remains illegal to drive in the UK, failing to meet European and UK safety regulations.

Its jagged and angular design may mean the pickup truck will never be able to pass Europe's stricter safety rules.

In January, a Cybertruck driver was arrested in Greater Manchester.

The futuristic-looking truck, did however, tour 100 stops in Europe and the Middle East in a "Cyber Odyssey".

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