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A woman formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in the state of California allegedly stole a minivan and led a prolonged police chase ending with her crossing the border into the nation of Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

According to a law enforcement announcement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who manages two female recovery residences, identified the suspect as one of the residents at Diana’s House Sober Living, located approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“My keys were stolen from my house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up just as it was occurring,” Walters stated, noting that the minivan is used for the sobriety home’s tasks.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Several Regions

Officials located the stolen vehicle about 12 miles to the north in a nearby city, where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson refused to stop and accelerated rapidly. She reached 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 CHP once Wilson merged onto the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This one is particularly unusual in the sense of the road situation allowing individuals to continue to remain on the freeway and prolong this pursuit,” said a public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

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

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

The pursuit finally arrived at the international border by early afternoon, prompting the CHP to terminate the chase due to jurisdictional constraints.

Walters indicated on Tuesday that the vehicle was situated in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was working with the CHP to recover the vehicle.

“Ultimately, I’m not concerned with the vehicle,” she said. “I’m more at ease aware she was not injured. The minivan is replaceable.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

The sober living home owner, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, acknowledges that the path to recovery from addiction and emotional distress is often non-linear.

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

“Recovery isn’t always pretty,” she added.