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A female individual formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in California reportedly took a stolen van and engaged in a prolonged police chase ending with her traveling across the border into Mexico on Monday.

Auto Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

According to a law enforcement statement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, 45, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her car key. The owner, who manages two women’s sober living homes, identified the suspect as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately an hour’s drive of Los Angeles.

“My keys were taken out of my house manager’s purse. I arrived just as it was occurring,” she said, noting that the vehicle is used for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Develops Across Several Regions

Authorities located the van about 12 miles to the north in a nearby city, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but Wilson did not comply and accelerated rapidly. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the 118 freeway until the chase continued into LA County. At that point, Ventura county authorities handed over the operation to the CHP once the driver entered the 405 freeway 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 pursuit,” said a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

The suspect allegedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the roadway by police, as seen in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase finally arrived at the international border by 1.30pm, prompting the CHP to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

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

“At the end of the day, I’m not worried about the car,” she said. “I’m relieved aware she was not injured. The minivan is easily substituted.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

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

“This represents a mental health and substance abuse crisis,” she said. “We need more support. It is essential to provide more resources for those that are struggling.”

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