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A woman previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in the state of California reportedly stole a minivan and engaged in a hours-long police chase ending with her crossing the border into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

As stated in a law enforcement announcement, a another female, Nicolle Walters, forty-five years old, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who manages two female recovery residences, identified the suspect as Alyssa Wilson at Diana’s House Sober Living, situated approximately 60 minutes north-west of Los Angeles.

“The keys were stolen from my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up right when it was happening,” she said, adding that the minivan is used for the sobriety home’s tasks.

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Several Regions

Authorities located the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers to the north in a nearby city, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson did not comply and sped away. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the pursuit proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities handed over the operation to the CHP once the driver entered the 405 freeway heading south.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the context of the road situation enabling individuals to persist on the freeway and extend this chase,” said a public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

Wilson reportedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the roadway by authorities, as seen in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

The pursuit eventually reached the international border by 1.30pm, leading to the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner stated on Tuesday that the vehicle was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was coordinating with the authorities to retrieve it.

“At the end of the day, I’m not concerned with the vehicle,” Walters remarked. “I’m more at ease aware she was not injured. The minivan is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has operated the recovery residence since October 2024, recognizes that the path to recovery from substance abuse and trauma is not always linear.

“This is a psychological and addiction emergency,” Walters emphasized. “We need additional assistance. It is essential to provide more resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“Recovery isn’t always pretty,” Walters concluded.