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A woman previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in California reportedly took a stolen van and led a hours-long police chase culminating with her traveling across the international boundary into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

According to a police statement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, 45, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was missing, along with her car key. Walters, who operates two women’s sober living homes, named the suspect as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of LA.

“The keys were stolen from my manager’s handbag. I arrived right when it was happening,” she said, noting that the vehicle is used for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Authorities tracked the stolen vehicle about 12 miles north in a nearby city, where they tried to pull the vehicle over, but the suspect refused to stop and accelerated rapidly. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the chase continued into LA County. At that point, local sheriff’s deputies handed over the pursuit to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This incident is very unique in the sense of the road situation allowing drivers to persist on the highway and extend this pursuit,” said a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

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

International Getaway and Aftermath

The pursuit eventually reached the US-Mexico border by 1.30pm, prompting the CHP to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

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

“At the end of the day, I’m not concerned with the vehicle,” Walters said. “I’m relieved knowing she was not injured. The car is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, recognizes that the path to recovery from substance abuse and trauma is often non-linear.

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

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