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A woman formerly staying at a female recovery facility in California allegedly took a stolen van and led a hours-long police chase culminating with her crossing the international boundary into Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

According to a police announcement, a second woman, Nicolle Walters, forty-five years old, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. Walters, who operates 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 taken out of my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up right when it was happening,” she said, adding that the minivan is designated for the sobriety home’s tasks.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Several Regions

Authorities located the van about 19 kilometers to the north in Simi Valley, where they tried to pull the vehicle over, but Wilson refused to stop and sped away. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the chase proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that point, Ventura county authorities handed over the pursuit to the CHP once Wilson entered the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This one is particularly unusual in the sense of the road situation enabling drivers to persist on the highway and prolong this pursuit,” said a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

The suspect reportedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the roadway by police, as documented in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The pursuit finally arrived at the US-Mexico border by 1.30pm, prompting the CHP to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner stated on the following day that the minivan was located in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was working with the CHP to recover the vehicle.

“Ultimately, I’m not concerned with the vehicle,” she said. “I’m more at ease knowing she was not injured. The minivan is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has run the recovery residence since October 2024, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and emotional distress is not always linear.

“This is a psychological and addiction emergency,” she said. “We need more support. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are struggling.”

“The recovery process can be messy,” she added.