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Driver Arrested for Tesla Cybertruck Lake Dive Using Wade Mode

5/24/2026

29 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Jimmy Jack McDaniel was arrested on May 18, 2026 after driving his Tesla Cybertruck into Grapevine Lake using Wade Mode.
Police found the Cybertruck at Katie's Woods Park ramp around 8 p.m., after which it was removed when the driver exited.
Police charged McDaniel with operating in a closed park/lake area and water-safety violations, noting Tesla’s manual limits Wade Mode to 32 inches of water, 30-minute use, and that water damage voids warranty.

History

Historical Context

The May 7 2016 fatal crash of a Tesla Model S on Autopilot in Florida, which killed driver Joshua Brown, triggered a NHTSA investigation and led regulators to tighten guidelines for driver-assistance systems. Between 2016 and 2022 Autopilot was linked to at least fifteen deaths, nine in the United States, prompting Tesla to revise sensor software and drop radar in later hardware generations.

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Story summary

Jimmy Jack McDaniel was arrested on May 18, 2026 after driving his Tesla Cybertruck into Grapevine Lake using Wade Mode.
Police found the Cybertruck at Katie's Woods Park ramp around 8 p.m., after which it was removed when the driver exited.
Police charged McDaniel with operating in a closed park/lake area and water-safety violations, noting Tesla’s manual limits Wade Mode to 32 inches of water, 30-minute use, and that water damage voids warranty.

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