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A female individual formerly staying at a female recovery facility in California reportedly took a stolen van and engaged in a hours-long law enforcement pursuit culminating with her crossing the border into the nation of Mexico on Monday.

Auto Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

As stated in a police statement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, 45, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who operates two female recovery residences, identified the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at Diana’s House Sober Living, situated approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“The keys were taken from my house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up right when it was occurring,” she said, adding that the minivan is used for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Authorities tracked the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers to the north in a nearby city, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but Wilson refused to stop and accelerated rapidly. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the chase proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities handed over the pursuit to the CHP once Wilson merged onto the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

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

Wilson reportedly avoided all the spike strips tossed on the roadway by police, as seen in aerial videos.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath Developments

The pursuit eventually reached 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 minivan was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was coordinating with the CHP to retrieve it.

“Ultimately, I’m not concerned with the vehicle,” she said. “I’m relieved aware she wasn’t hurt. The minivan is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from addiction and trauma is not always linear.

“This is a mental health and addiction emergency,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for more support. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are struggling.”

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