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A woman formerly staying at a female recovery facility in the state of California reportedly took a stolen van and engaged in a hours-long police chase culminating with her traveling across the border into Mexico on the start of the week.

Auto Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

According to a law enforcement statement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, 45, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who manages two women’s sober living homes, identified the alleged thief 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 arrived just as it was occurring,” Walters stated, adding that the vehicle is used for the sobriety home’s tasks.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Officials tracked the van about 12 miles north in Simi Valley, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect did not comply and accelerated rapidly. She reached speeds of about 90mph on the 118 freeway until the pursuit continued into Los Angeles county. At that point, Ventura county authorities handed over the operation to the California highway patrol once Wilson merged onto the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the sense of the road situation allowing drivers to continue to remain on the freeway and extend this chase,” said a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

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

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

The chase eventually reached the international border by early afternoon, prompting the highway patrol to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

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

“At the end of the day, I’m not worried about the vehicle,” she remarked. “I’m relieved aware she was not injured. The minivan is replaceable.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

Walters, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and trauma is often non-linear.

“This represents a mental health and addiction crisis,” she said. “We need more support. We need greater resources for those that are struggling.”

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