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A woman formerly staying at a female recovery facility in the state of California reportedly took a stolen van and led a hours-long law enforcement pursuit ending with her traveling across the border into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

According to a law enforcement statement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, 45, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. Walters, who operates two women’s sober living homes, identified the suspect as Alyssa Wilson at Diana’s House Sober Living, situated approximately 60 minutes north-west of LA.

“The keys were stolen from my house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up just as it was occurring,” Walters stated, noting that the vehicle is used for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Authorities located the van about 19 kilometers north in Simi Valley, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson did not comply and sped away. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the chase continued into Los Angeles county. At that point, local sheriff’s deputies transferred the operation to the CHP once Wilson entered the 405 freeway heading south.

“This incident is very unique in the context of the road situation enabling drivers to continue to remain on the highway and extend this chase,” said a public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

The suspect reportedly dodged all the spike strips deployed on the road by police, as seen in footage from above.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath

The chase finally arrived at the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, leading to the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

The vehicle owner stated on Tuesday that the minivan was situated in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the authorities to retrieve it.

“Ultimately, I’m not concerned with the vehicle,” she said. “I’m relieved knowing she was not injured. The car is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

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

“This represents a psychological and substance abuse crisis,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for more support. We need more resources for those that are struggling.”

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