Tesla Cybertruck driver arrested after driving into lake to use 'wade mode', police say

Police said the vehicle was abandoned by the driver after it took on water near the shoreline of Grapevine Lake in north Texas. Tesla Cybertruck driver arrested after driving into lake to use 'wade mode', police say Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. A silver Tesla Cybertruck seen partially submerged in water, which has risen half way up the wheels, in a lake. A man has been arrested in Texas accused of intentionally driving his Tesla Cybertruck into a lake to use the vehicle's "wade mode" feature. The Grapevine Police Department said its officers were called to Grapevine Lake in north Texas on Monday to recover the vehicle, which had been abandoned by the driver and passengers after it took on water and became stuck. Wade mode allows a Cybertruck "to enter and drive through bodies of water, such as rivers or creeks" at a maximum depth of 81.5 cm (32 inches), according to Tesla's online manual. The driver was arrested on charges of operating a vehicle in a closed section of the lake and for other water safety equipment violations, police said. The partially-submerged vehicle was removed from near the shoreline of the south side of the lake, with the Grapevine Fire Department Water Rescue Team assisting police in the operation. According to the police statement, "the driver stated he intentionally drove into the lake to use the Cybertruck's "Wade Mode" feature", after which "the vehicle became disabled and took on water". 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". "We wouldn't encourage willingly driving your vehicle into the water," said Katharina Gamboa of the Grapevine Police Department, in comments reported by the BBC's US news partner CBS News. "You know, not only that, it's a safety concern, but it's also a legal concern as well," she said. The Tesla Cybertruck is an electric pickup truck made of rocket-like, bullet-proof steel materials, and sells for upwards of $70,000 (£52,072). It was launched in 2019 and rolled out to the public in 2023. The Tesla Cybertruck is an electric pickup truck made of rocket-like, bullet-proof steel materials, and sells for upwards of $70,000 (£52,072). It was launched in 2019 and Tesla states in its owner's manual for the vehicle that it is the driver's responsibility "to gauge the depth of any body of water before entering", adding that "damage or water ingress to Cybertruck as a result of driving in water is not covered by the warranty". Tesla says the maximum wade depth of approximately 32 in (815 mm) is measured from the bottom of the tire. Where water becomes too deep, the manual advises drivers to return to more shallow water or dry land. The manufacturer also warns not to drive in deep, fast-flowing bodies of water such as strong currents or rapids. A Tesla Cybertruck during a test drive in Los Angeles, California, US, on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. Tesla makes largest ever Cybertruck recall The black Tesla Cybertruck parked up at a petrol station next to a Morrisons Daily branch and in front of a yellow liveried police car Driver stopped in Tesla Cybertruck banned in UK 'Armor glass' smashes in Tesla truck demo fail Nine deportees arrive from the US as part of Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. Tracking data shows several flights by US Navy reconnaissance jets and drones during the last week. After a decades-long career in Congress, he spent his final weeks at his home in Maine living in hospice. Trump's move dismayed Senate Republicans, many of whom have served with the Texan for decades. Deisy Rivera Ortega was taken into custody at an immigration appointment in Texas last month. The lawsuit comes amid increased scrutiny over platform features like auto-play that deliver endless content to users. During the proceedings, the seven-year-old victim's uncle told the court that Athena's killing took 'a piece of every single person who loved her'. The private Christian summer camp had originally planned to host 800 girls to a different location which did not experience any fatalities last year.