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A woman formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in California reportedly took a stolen van and led a prolonged police chase ending with her crossing the border into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Auto Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

According to a law enforcement announcement, a another female, Nicolle Walters, 45, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was stolen, along with her car key. The owner, who operates 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 LA.

“My keys were stolen out of my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up just as it was happening,” Walters stated, adding that the vehicle is used for the sobriety home’s tasks.

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Several Regions

Officials tracked the van about 12 miles north in Simi Valley, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson did not comply and sped away. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the pursuit continued into Los Angeles county. At that point, Ventura county authorities transferred the operation to the CHP once Wilson merged onto the 405 freeway heading south.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the context of the traffic conditions allowing drivers to persist on the highway and prolong this chase,” commented a public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

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

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath Developments

The chase eventually reached the international border by 1.30pm, prompting the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

The vehicle owner stated on the following day that the minivan was located 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,” Walters remarked. “I’m more at ease aware she wasn’t hurt. The minivan is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, acknowledges that the path to recovery from addiction and emotional distress is not always linear.

“This represents a psychological and substance abuse crisis,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for additional assistance. We need more resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“The recovery process can be messy,” Walters concluded.