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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 engaged in a prolonged police chase ending with her crossing the border into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

According to a police announcement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, 45, notified authorities that her gray minivan from 2004 was stolen, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who manages two female recovery residences, named the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at Diana’s House Sober Living, situated approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“My keys were taken out of my house manager’s purse. I arrived right when it was occurring,” Walters stated, adding that the vehicle is used for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Several Regions

Authorities located the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers north in a nearby city, where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect did not comply and sped away. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the 118 freeway until the pursuit proceeded into LA County. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities handed over the pursuit to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the 405 freeway heading south.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the sense of the traffic conditions enabling drivers to continue to remain on the freeway and prolong this pursuit,” said a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

Wilson reportedly dodged all the spike strips tossed on the roadway by authorities, as seen in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase eventually reached the international border by 1.30pm, prompting the CHP to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

Walters indicated on Tuesday that the vehicle was located 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 concerned with 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 run the recovery residence since October 2024, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from addiction and trauma is not always linear.

“This is a mental health and substance abuse crisis,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for more support. We need greater resources for those that are struggling.”

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