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

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

As stated in 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 car key. Walters, who manages two female recovery residences, named the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at Diana’s House Sober Living, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of Los Angeles.

“My keys were taken from my house manager’s purse. I arrived right when it was happening,” Walters stated, noting that the minivan is designated for the sobriety home’s tasks.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Several Regions

Authorities located the van about 19 kilometers north in Simi Valley, where they tried to pull the vehicle over, but the suspect did not comply and accelerated rapidly. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the chase proceeded into LA County. At that point, Ventura county authorities handed over the operation to the California highway patrol once Wilson entered the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

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

The suspect allegedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the roadway by police, as documented in aerial videos.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath

The pursuit eventually reached the US-Mexico border by 1.30pm, leading to the CHP to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

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

“At the end of the day, I’m not concerned with the car,” Walters remarked. “I’m more at ease knowing she wasn’t hurt. The car is easily substituted.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

The sober living home owner, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, acknowledges that the path to recovery from addiction and emotional distress is not always linear.

“This is a psychological and addiction emergency,” Walters emphasized. “We need additional assistance. We need more resources for those that are facing challenges.”

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