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A woman previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in the state of California reportedly took a stolen van and led a prolonged law enforcement pursuit ending with her traveling across the international boundary into Mexico on Monday.

Auto Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

As stated in a police statement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, 45, notified authorities that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, along with her vehicle key. Walters, who operates two female recovery residences, named the suspect as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, situated approximately 60 minutes north-west of Los Angeles.

“The keys were taken from my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up right when it was happening,” Walters stated, adding that the minivan is designated for the sobriety home’s tasks.

High-Speed Pursuit Develops Across Multiple Counties

Officials tracked the van about 12 miles to the north in a nearby city, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but Wilson refused to stop and accelerated rapidly. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the pursuit proceeded into LA County. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities handed over the pursuit to the CHP once the driver merged onto the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

“This incident is very unique in the context of the traffic conditions enabling drivers to persist on the freeway and prolong this chase,” said a public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

The suspect reportedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the roadway by authorities, as documented in aerial videos.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath Developments

The chase eventually reached the US-Mexico border by 1.30pm, prompting the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

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

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

Insight from the Facility Operator

The sober living home owner, who has operated the recovery residence since October 2024, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and trauma is not always linear.

“This is a psychological and substance abuse emergency,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for additional assistance. It is essential to provide more resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“Recovery can be messy,” Walters concluded.