A California man was convicted last week of trying to profit from a road rage incident by submitting a claim to his insurance company for the damage he caused to his own car, according to an announcement by the Santa Clara County District Attorney.

Ken Pham Tran told Progressive Insurance Co. that the damage to his white Jeep Wrangler Rubicon was caused by an accident rather than what actually occurred.

On January 28, 2025, Tran was driving on Highway 101 near the Alum Rock Ave. on ramp when he got into a road rage incident, captured on the commercial truck’s dashcam.

Because he felt he had been cut off, Tran caught up to the semi-truck at the Story Road underpass and “brake checked” two times, slamming on his brakes just in front of the truck. The semi-truck driver tried to change lanes to avoid the Jeep, but Tran maneuvered his vehicle to stay in front of the truck and “brake checked” the truck a third time. This time, the truck driver was unable to stop and rear-ended the Jeep.

Fearing that the defendant would cause an accident, an independent witness called 911 to report the reckless driving. Tran also called 911 and reported the truck driver for a hit-and-run accident. In his statement to police, Tran lied and said he was stopped for traffic when he was rear-ended.

He then filed an insurance claim where he minimized and omitted his unsafe driving.

Tran is facing jail time after he was convicted of felony insurance fraud, felony vandalism, and reckless driving.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 10, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in Department 51 at the Hall of Justice in San Jose.

“Beyond endangering people’s lives, including his own, this defendant pretended his own reckless driving was simply an accident,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. “Trying to defraud an insurance company is bad enough. Trying to profit from your own road rage is outrageous, and we will seek an appropriate punishment.”

Progressive Insurance is seeking restitution of $1,200. Bill Jacobsen Trucking is seeking restitution of $6,000.