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A female individual previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in California reportedly took a stolen van and led a prolonged police chase ending with her traveling across the international boundary into Mexico on Monday.

Auto Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

As stated in a law enforcement statement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, 45, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was stolen, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who operates two female recovery residences, identified the alleged thief as one of the residents at Diana’s House Sober Living, located approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“My keys were stolen out of my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up right when it was occurring,” Walters stated, adding that the minivan is used for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Several Regions

Authorities tracked the stolen vehicle about 12 miles to the north in a nearby city, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the suspect did not comply and sped away. She attained speeds of about 90mph 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 the driver merged onto the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This one is very unique in the sense of the traffic conditions allowing drivers to persist on the freeway and extend this chase,” commented a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

Wilson reportedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the roadway by authorities, as documented in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The pursuit finally arrived at the international border by 1.30pm, leading to the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

Walters indicated on the following day that the minivan was situated in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the CHP 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 was not injured. The minivan is replaceable.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

Walters, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since last October, acknowledges that the path to recovery from substance abuse and trauma is not always linear.

“This is a mental health and substance abuse emergency,” Walters emphasized. “We need more support. We need more resources for those that are struggling.”

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