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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 prolonged law enforcement pursuit ending with her crossing the border into Mexico on Monday.

Auto Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

According to a law enforcement announcement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, 45, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her car key. The owner, who operates two female recovery residences, named the suspect as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately an hour’s drive of Los Angeles.

“My keys were stolen out of 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 12 miles north in Simi Valley, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson refused to stop and sped away. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the chase continued into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, local sheriff’s deputies handed over the pursuit to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This one is very unique in the sense of the traffic conditions enabling individuals to persist on the highway and extend this pursuit,” commented a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

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

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase eventually reached the US-Mexico border by 1.30pm, leading to the CHP to terminate the chase due to jurisdictional constraints.

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

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the car,” Walters said. “I’m more at ease knowing she wasn’t hurt. The minivan is replaceable.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

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

“This represents a mental health and substance abuse crisis,” she said. “There is a need for more support. It is essential to provide more resources for those that are facing challenges.”

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