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

Vehicle Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

As stated in a law enforcement announcement, a another female, Nicolle Walters, forty-five years old, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who operates two female recovery residences, named the suspect as Alyssa Wilson at Diana’s House Sober Living, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of LA.

“The keys were taken from my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up just as it was happening,” Walters stated, noting that the vehicle is used for the sobriety home’s tasks.

High-Speed Pursuit Develops Across Several Regions

Authorities tracked the van about 12 miles north in Simi Valley, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson did not comply and sped away. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the chase continued into LA County. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities transferred the operation to the California highway patrol once Wilson merged onto the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

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

Wilson allegedly avoided all the spike strips deployed on the roadway by police, as documented in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

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

Walters stated on Tuesday that the vehicle was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was working with the CHP to retrieve it.

“At the end of the day, I’m not concerned with the car,” she remarked. “I’m more at ease knowing she was not injured. The car is easily substituted.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

Walters, who has operated the recovery residence since October 2024, acknowledges that the path to recovery from addiction and trauma is not always linear.

“This represents a mental health and addiction emergency,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for additional assistance. We need more resources for those that are struggling.”

“Recovery can be messy,” Walters concluded.