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A female individual formerly staying at a female recovery facility in the state of California allegedly stole a minivan and led a hours-long police chase ending with her crossing the international boundary into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Auto Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

As stated in a law enforcement announcement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. Walters, who operates two women’s sober living homes, named the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at Diana’s House Sober Living, situated approximately 60 minutes north-west of Los Angeles.

“My keys were stolen out of my house manager’s purse. I arrived right when it was happening,” Walters stated, adding that the minivan is used for the sobriety home’s tasks.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Multiple Counties

Authorities tracked the van about 12 miles to the north in a nearby city, where they tried to pull the vehicle over, but the suspect refused to stop and sped away. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the pursuit continued into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities transferred the pursuit to the CHP once the driver entered the 405 freeway heading south.

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

Wilson allegedly avoided all the spike strips deployed on the roadway by police, as documented in aerial videos.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath Developments

The chase eventually reached the international border by 1.30pm, prompting the CHP to terminate the chase due to jurisdictional constraints.

Walters indicated on the following day that the vehicle was situated in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was working with the CHP to recover the vehicle.

“At the end of the day, I’m not concerned with the vehicle,” Walters said. “I’m more at ease aware she was not injured. The car is easily substituted.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

Walters, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, recognizes that the path to recovery from addiction and trauma is often non-linear.

“This represents a psychological and addiction emergency,” she said. “There is a need for more support. We need more resources for those that are struggling.”

“Recovery isn’t always pretty,” she added.