Driver Gets Jail After Brake-Checking Semi

A California driver who prosecutors say turned Highway 101 into a personal battleground is headed to jail. San Jose resident Ken Pham Tran, 53, was sentenced to 60 days in county jail after authorities said he repeatedly brake-checked a semi-truck, then lied about it to police and his insurer. Tran was convicted of felony insurance fraud, felony vandalism, and misdemeanor reckless driving over the January 2025 incident, according to the Santa Clara County district attorney. Dashcam video showed Tran's white Jeep Wrangler Rubicon cutting in front of the truck three times and slamming on the brakes, culminating in a rear-end collision as traffic slowed ahead, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Prosecutors said Tran later called 911 to falsely report the trucker for hit-and-run and omitted his own role when filing a claim with Progressive Insurance. Another driver who called 911 reported the Jeep's aggressive maneuvers and said the truck had little chance to avoid the crash. Tran was ordered to pay about $4,200 in restitution to the insurer and the trucking company. "This person made a lot of bad decisions," District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. "Road rage doesn't pay," said state Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, per KRON.