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A woman previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in the state of California reportedly took a stolen van and led a hours-long police chase culminating with her traveling across the border into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

According to a law enforcement statement, a second woman, Nicolle Walters, forty-five years old, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, 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 LA.

“My keys were taken out of my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up just as it was happening,” Walters stated, noting that the vehicle is used for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Several Regions

Officials tracked the stolen vehicle about 12 miles to the north in a nearby city, where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect refused to stop and accelerated rapidly. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the chase proceeded into LA County. At that point, Ventura county authorities handed over the pursuit to the CHP once the driver entered the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the sense of the road situation allowing drivers to persist on the highway and extend this chase,” said a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

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

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

The chase finally arrived at the international border by 1.30pm, prompting the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

Walters indicated on the following day that the vehicle was situated in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was working with the authorities to retrieve it.

“At the end of the day, I’m not worried about the vehicle,” she said. “I’m relieved knowing she wasn’t hurt. The minivan is replaceable.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

The sober living home owner, who has operated the recovery residence since October 2024, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and trauma is not always linear.

“This is a psychological and substance abuse crisis,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for additional assistance. We need greater resources for those that are struggling.”

“The recovery process isn’t always pretty,” Walters concluded.