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A female individual formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in California allegedly stole a minivan and led a hours-long police chase ending with her crossing the international boundary into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

According to a police announcement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, 45, notified authorities that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, along with her car key. Walters, who manages 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 Los Angeles.

“The keys were taken out of my house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up just as it was happening,” she said, noting that the minivan is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Several Regions

Officials located the stolen vehicle about 12 miles north in Simi Valley, where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect refused to stop and accelerated rapidly. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the pursuit proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that point, Ventura county authorities transferred the operation to the California highway patrol once Wilson entered the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This incident is very unique in the context of the road situation allowing drivers to continue to remain on the freeway and extend this pursuit,” commented a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

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

International Getaway and Aftermath

The pursuit eventually reached the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, prompting the CHP to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

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

“At the end of the day, I’m not worried about the vehicle,” she said. “I’m relieved knowing she wasn’t hurt. The minivan is replaceable.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

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

“This is a mental health and addiction crisis,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for additional assistance. We need greater resources for those that are struggling.”

“Recovery can be messy,” she added.