A Tesla Cybertruck was submerged in the Ventura Harbor on Monday morning after the driver mistakenly reversed into the water.
The incident occurred in Ventura, California, when the vehicle, which was thought to be moving forward, accelerated in reverse and rolled down a ramp into the harbor.
The Ventura Harbor Patrol unit was conducting routine rounds when they spotted the Cybertruck floating in the water. Captain Carson Shevitz of TowBoatUS Ventura confirmed that by the time the patrol arrived, the truck had sunk approximately 8 feet underwater. Fortunately, the driver was able to escape without injury.
“The operator indicated he thought he was in forward, but he was actually in reverse,” Shevitz explained to SFGATE. “He accelerated to go up the ramp and went backwards.”
Emergency responders, including the Ventura City Fire Department, Ventura Harbor Patrol, US Coast Guard pollution responders, and a game warden from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, were dispatched to the scene. A Tesla field engineer was also on-site to monitor the situation due to concerns over potential fire hazards from the vehicle’s lithium-ion batteries.
“Lithium-ion batteries do not do well going underwater,” Shevitz warned, citing the potential risks of an electrical fire.
Once deemed safe, TowBoatUS Ventura divers attached a cable to the Cybertruck to pull it out of the water. The vehicle was then towed onto a Redline Towing truck for further removal.
Photo: TowBoatUS Ventura
This marks the third similar incident involving submerged vehicles in the area in the past year. Both the Ventura Harbor Patrol and Ventura City Fire Department have yet to provide further comments on the incident.
