A Tesla Cybertruck sank into Ventura Harbor waters on Monday when its owner tried to launch a Jet Ski from the vehicle. Multiple agencies responded in full force to extract the electric vehicle from its submerged position to prevent a dangerous battery fire.
The vehicle sank to eight feet of water depth when the driver mistakenly operated the vehicle in reverse instead of drive, according to TowBoatUS Ventura captain Carson Shevitz. The Harbor Patrol detected the floating vehicle near the boat ramp around 11 a.m. Shevitz worked with Tesla engineers and fire officials to develop a recovery plan that addressed the lithium-ion battery risks.
Shevitz said she thought about the batteries as soon as she learned the vehicle was a Cybertruck. Shevitz reacted with genuine excitement, saying, “Oh, great,” because the situation required extensive investigation of unknown factors. The truck did not produce any signs of bubbling or hissing, which could have indicated battery gas release.
During a previous announcement, Elon Musk declared that the Cybertruck would have enough water resistance to float as a boat for brief periods. The specific truck failed to match the high standards that people expected from it. The Tesla field engineers who inspected the vehicle at the beach determined it was suitable for transportation to the service center.
The rescue operation lasted less than two hours while Ventura City Fire Department, alongside Harbor Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife, participated. The Cybertruck boat recovery marked Shevitz’s team’s initial experience dealing with this specific type of vessel.
People wanted to witness this unusual event because it appeared so seldom, according to him.
