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A woman formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in California allegedly took a stolen van and led a prolonged police chase ending with her traveling across the border into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Reported 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 stolen, along with her car key. Walters, who manages two women’s sober living homes, named the suspect as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, situated approximately 60 minutes north-west of LA.

“The keys were taken from my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up right when it was happening,” Walters stated, noting that the minivan is used for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Several Regions

Authorities tracked the stolen vehicle 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 reached speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the chase proceeded into LA County. At that point, local sheriff’s deputies handed over the pursuit to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the 405 freeway heading south.

“This incident is very unique in the context of the traffic conditions allowing individuals to persist on the freeway and prolong this pursuit,” commented a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

The suspect allegedly avoided all the spike strips deployed on the road by police, as seen in aerial videos.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath Developments

The chase finally arrived at the international border by early afternoon, leading to the CHP to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner indicated on the following day that the minivan was situated in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the CHP to recover the vehicle.

“Ultimately, I’m not concerned with the vehicle,” Walters said. “I’m relieved knowing she was not injured. The car is replaceable.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

Walters, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since last October, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and emotional distress is often non-linear.

“This represents a psychological and addiction emergency,” Walters emphasized. “We need additional assistance. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“Recovery isn’t always pretty,” she added.