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A woman formerly staying at a female recovery facility in California allegedly took a stolen van and led a prolonged police chase culminating with her traveling across the border into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

According to a law enforcement statement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was missing, along with her vehicle key. Walters, who operates two female recovery residences, named 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 manager’s handbag. I arrived right when it was happening,” she said, adding that the vehicle is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Several Regions

Authorities tracked the van about 19 kilometers north in Simi Valley, where they tried to pull the vehicle over, but the suspect refused to stop and sped away. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the pursuit proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that point, Ventura county authorities transferred the pursuit to the California highway patrol once the driver merged onto the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This one is very unique in the sense of the road situation enabling drivers to persist on the freeway and extend this chase,” commented a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

Wilson reportedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the road by authorities, as seen in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

The chase eventually reached the international border by 1.30pm, leading to the CHP to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

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

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

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since last October, acknowledges that the path to recovery from substance abuse and trauma is often non-linear.

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

“Recovery can be messy,” Walters concluded.