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A woman previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in the state of California allegedly took a stolen van and led a prolonged law enforcement pursuit culminating with her crossing the border into the nation of Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

As stated in a law enforcement announcement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, along with her car key. Walters, who operates two women’s sober living homes, named the suspect as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, situated approximately 60 minutes north-west of Los Angeles.

“My keys were taken out of my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up right when it was occurring,” she said, noting that the minivan is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Authorities tracked the van about 19 kilometers north in a nearby city, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but Wilson did not comply and sped away. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the pursuit continued into LA County. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities handed over the pursuit to the CHP once the driver merged onto the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This one is particularly unusual in the context of the traffic conditions enabling individuals to persist on the highway and prolong this chase,” said a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

The suspect reportedly avoided all the spike strips tossed on the road by police, as documented in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase eventually reached the international border by early afternoon, prompting the CHP to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

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

“Ultimately, I’m not concerned with the vehicle,” Walters said. “I’m relieved knowing she wasn’t hurt. The car is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and trauma is not always linear.

“This is a mental health and addiction crisis,” she said. “There is a need for additional assistance. We need greater resources for those that are struggling.”

“Recovery can be messy,” she added.