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A woman previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in California reportedly stole a minivan and led a hours-long law enforcement pursuit ending with her crossing the border into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Auto Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

According to a police announcement, a another female, Nicolle Walters, forty-five years old, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. Walters, who manages two female recovery residences, named the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at Diana’s House Sober Living, situated approximately an hour’s drive of Los Angeles.

“The keys were stolen out of my house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up right when it was happening,” she said, adding that the vehicle is designated for the sobriety home’s tasks.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Several Regions

Officials tracked the stolen vehicle about 12 miles to the north in Simi Valley, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the suspect refused to stop and accelerated rapidly. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the chase proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities transferred the pursuit to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the context of the traffic conditions allowing individuals to continue to remain on the highway and extend this chase,” said a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

Wilson allegedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the road by authorities, as documented in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The pursuit finally arrived at the international border by early afternoon, leading to the highway patrol to terminate the chase due to jurisdictional constraints.

Walters stated on Tuesday that the vehicle was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was working with the CHP to retrieve it.

“At the end of the day, I’m not worried about the car,” Walters remarked. “I’m relieved aware she was not injured. The minivan is easily substituted.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

The sober living home owner, who has run the recovery residence since last October, acknowledges that the path to recovery from addiction and trauma is often non-linear.

“This represents a psychological and addiction emergency,” she said. “There is a need for more support. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“Recovery can be messy,” Walters concluded.