"Is This Car Waterproof?" US Man in His 70s Makes Dramatic Escape After Driving Cybertruck Into Lake, Trusting Its Features

The vehicle stopped quickly as water filled the cabin
Driver and passenger escaped without injury
Police warn of possible legal and safety issues

In Texas, USA, a man in his seventies was arrested by police after driving his Tesla Cybertruck into a lake to test its 'Wade Mode.' The vehicle stopped shortly after entering the water, and as water began to flood the interior, both the driver and his passenger abandoned the car and escaped.

On the 21st, Yonhap News TV, citing foreign media outlets such as The Guardian and Business Insider, reported on the incident in which a Cybertruck was driven into a lake in the United States and subsequently flooded.

The user manual for the vehicle clearly states that the driver is responsible for checking the water depth and the condition of the bottom before entering the water. It also instructs that all doors and windows must be closed, and warns that if the underwater ground is soft or muddy, the vehicle may sink, increasing the risk of flooding. Grapevine Police Department

The accident occurred on the 20th near the boat ramp at Eaties Woods Park, Texas. The Grapevine Police Department recovered the Tesla Cybertruck from the lake. The driver was identified as 70-year-old Jimmy Jack McDaniel, who reportedly told police that he intentionally entered the lake to test the Cybertruck's 'Wade Mode.'

Wade Mode is a feature designed for crossing shallow water bodies, such as rivers or streams, at low speeds. However, contrary to McDaniel's expectations, the vehicle soon stopped working, and water began entering the cabin. McDaniel and his passenger quickly exited the vehicle, leaving it behind. The Grapevine Fire Department's water rescue team was subsequently deployed and pulled the submerged Cybertruck out of the lake. It is known that some parts of Grapevine Lake reach depths of approximately 20 meters. Meanwhile, according to the Tesla Cybertruck user manual, Wade Mode is intended for traversing water up to about 815 mm deep—measured from the bottom of the tire—at low speeds of 2 to 5 kilometers per hour.

Furthermore, the Tesla user manual clearly states that the driver is responsible for checking the water depth and the condition of the bottom before entering the water. It also instructs that all doors and windows must be closed, and warns that if the underwater ground is soft or muddy, the vehicle may sink, increasing the risk of flooding. McDaniel was arrested on charges of driving in a restricted park and lake area and for violations related to water safety equipment. Local police warned, "Even if a vehicle is physically able to enter shallow freshwater areas, actually attempting this can result in legal and safety issues under Texas state law."

Previously, a Cybertruck being used to launch a jet ski at Ventura Harbor also ended up in the water, prompting rescue efforts by firefighters, harbor patrol, and the coast guard. Another Cybertruck imported to Europe was likewise stranded while testing Wade Mode in a lake in Slovakia.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.