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A woman formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in California reportedly took a stolen van and led a hours-long law enforcement pursuit culminating with her crossing the international boundary into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

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

“The keys were stolen from my house manager’s purse. I arrived just as it was occurring,” she said, noting that the minivan is designated for the sobriety home’s tasks.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Authorities tracked the van about 19 kilometers north in a nearby city, where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect refused to stop and accelerated rapidly. She reached speeds of about 90mph on the 118 freeway until the chase continued into Los Angeles county. At that point, local sheriff’s deputies handed over the operation to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This one is very unique in the context of the traffic conditions allowing individuals to continue to remain on the highway and prolong this chase,” commented a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

Wilson reportedly dodged all the spike strips tossed on the roadway by police, as seen in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

The pursuit finally arrived at the international border by early afternoon, prompting the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

Walters indicated on the following day that the vehicle was situated in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was coordinating with the CHP to recover the vehicle.

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

Insight from the Facility Operator

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

“This is a mental health and substance abuse crisis,” she said. “There is a need for more support. We need greater resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“The recovery process can be messy,” she added.